No one will ever divide us again: PM Kamla

Fireworks lit up the midnight sky over the Rienzi Complex Monday as thousands celebrated with the leaders of the People's Partnership the landslide victory in Monday's Local Government Election.

In a speech to supporters, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar thanked everyone for the victory and pledged that she would not allow anyone "to divide and rule our rainbow nation again."

She said the people's victory is now complete with control of both the central and local government and added that "we are now best placed to begin the process of transformation and change".

On behalf of all the leaders of the People's Partnership the Prime Minister thanked everyone and expressed her heartfelt gratitude.

"And I take this opportunity to recommit the People's partnership to serve the people, serve the people, serve the people!" She pledged to keep "the faith that you have bestowed in us."

She said the result of the election is testimony of the commitment of supporters and "your country is eternally grateful...this is your victory and we will never let your down."

Persad Bissessar also had a message for PNM supporters and their leader, Dr Keith Rowley. To PNM members, she said as citizens they are entitled to all the benefits of the state.

"This is a victory not just for the party I represent or the government I lead; this is a victory for the people...and everyone must benefit from it," she said.

And she called on Rowley to put politics aside and work to build and transform the nation. "I offer an open hand of cooperation to work with us in making Trinidad and Tobago a better place for all our citizens," she said.

"The change that is about to take place in Trinidad and Tobago will call for all our resources, it will require the support of every citizen and it will bring out the best in each of us," Persad-Bissessar said.

She spoke of the transformation of the society to produce the highest level of creativity to foster a stronger "brotherhood and sisterhood, create a more caring and compassionate society, rekindle old, strong traditional values, inspire greater tolerance and acceptance and open a whole new world of promise for Trinidad and Tobago to finally become the nation we were always destined to be."

The Prime Minister also had a message for the newly elected members of local councils, telling them their work has only just begun.

"I expect that each of the winning local government candidates will tonight begin preparing for the first day's work in the communities they represent," she said. And she warned that they will face an ongoing performance assessment.

She urged everyone to celebrate, but do it in moderation. And she promised that "my love will always be there for you."