PRESIDENT-ELECT Christine Kangaloo on Thursday has called on the nation to give her a chance, when asked if she would be impartial as a former politician becoming head of state.
She said many personalities have successfully left politics to hold independent high office.
Kangaloo spoke to reporters in the Red House Rotunda just after receiving her instruments of election from Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George, in the presence of Senate President Nigel de Freitas, following her election last week Friday by the Electoral College.
Kangaloo got 48 votes – equivalent to the tally of Government and Independent members, ahead of the Opposition's nominee Israel Khan, SC, who got 22 votes, with three ballots being spoilt.
Asked if her election, including with support of all nine Independent Senators had put to rest opposition fears of her possible partisanship, and whether she would act properly in any future constitutional crisis, Kangaloo answered by recalling her leaving party politics upon becoming Senate President in 2015.
"I resigned from participation in the political party, I resigned my membership.
"As the President of the Senate, I have attended no political functions, I've taken part in no political activities, I've made no political decisions.
"I have received no political instructions. That is how I have been conducting myself for the last seven years."
Kangaloo said she would not deny being member of a political party and holding different offices at different times in her life.
"But I want to also say that while I held those posts, as as a minister I performed my duties without any partisan interest.
"My very first appointment was as minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for social services delivery.
"As that minister, I would get numerous heart-breaking letters from people disadvantaged in society. I can tell you, without anyone being able to contradict me, I never treated anything on a partisan basis.
"I didn't look at someone and ask, 'Well, which political party do you belong to? I can't assist you.' That's not how it works."
MANY HAVE TRANSITIONED
Kangaloo said many others have successfully transitioned out of politics to independent high office.
"The last thing I want to say as well is that there are many other distinguished people in our society who have been in political parties and transitioned to other areas.
"You have had politicians who moved on to the judiciary. You have had people who ran as candidates in political parties who became independent senators, who became members of service commissions. That transition happened and no one has questioned their credibility.
"So all I ask of the people of Trinidad and Tobago is to give me the opportunity to show you that I can also perform my duties in the way the Constitution expects me to."
Kangaloo served as Pointe-a-Pierre MP in 2007-2010, taking over from Gillian Lucky who was MP until 2007, before becoming a judge in the High Court and then Appeal Court.
Prof Ramesh Deosaran, former ind
