Loan Adviser

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister set elections for May 24

PORT OF SPAIN (Reuters) – Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning, on Friday scheduled general election for May 24, seeking a new mandate for his People”s National Movement (MNP) amid accusations of mismanagement public.

Manning”s office announced the date a week after the prime minister dissolved Parliament.

The leader faces a strong challenge opposition party, United National Congress (UNC), who joined forces with the alternative Congress of the People (COP).

Who gets control of parliament of 41 seats to form the next government in the nation the southern Caribbean, whose economy depends heavily on oil and gas production.

Manning, 64, Trinidad and Tobago has ruled for 13 of the last 17 years, but has been under pressure over allegations of corruption and misappropriation of public funds.

Prime Minister was widely criticized for spending millions of dollars last year for meetings of Heads of State Summit the Americas and the Commonwealth of Nations, request that critics did not produce tangible benefits for the country.

Manning vigorously defended their policies and boasted of having created opportu1000nities for higher education also jobs for young people, saying it had been unfairly maligned.

(Published in Spanish by Marion Giraldo)