Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has expressed concern over government’s nomination of Christine Kangaloo as this country’s seventh President, questioning her independence given her tenure in active politics under the PNM.

Persad-Bissessar, along with UNC members David Lee and Wade Mark, met with government on Friday to discuss an appointment for this country’s 7th President.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley announced government’s proposed pick, the current Senate President, in a media conference on the heels of the meeting.

“This choice, in my view, further exemplifies that the Rowley government doesn’t have respect for having critical and independent persons or as for as possible non-partisan persons. This lady has been in active politics since way back when… She contested the seat for the PNM years ago when Wade Mark was the UNC candidate. She became a Cabinet Minister, thereafter; she was an Opposition PNM Senator. Her family is in bed with the PNM! The whole clan is in the bosom and the bowels of the PNM but you want to say she is apolitical?” Persad-Bissessar lamented in a media conference on Friday afternoon.

She says while many may view the President’s office as “toothless”, there were many avenues in which a candidate who is not impartial could create conflict.

“The President appoints a lot of bodies, Commissions and so on, that should be independent. So, the service commissions, the Integrity Commission… These are not light duties. These things govern and guide us in so many ways within our Constitutional framework… and the Westminster democracy,” she said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley defends his nomination of Christine Kangaloo for President, pointing to the fact that the current Senate leader acted as President on several occasions since 2015, without scandal.

“And during that seven years we are satisfied that she served and did not disqualify in any way by her conduct. So being a former minister of government is part of her tool and experience. She has served as both sides of parliament floor. What excellent qualification of a person who is asked to move into a job and what is required for the presidency is a character and senator Kangaloo has demonstrated that she has that,” the Prime Minister said.