New Delhi, Apr 29 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today congratulated Trinidad and Tobago‘s PM-elect Kamla Persad-Bissessar on winning the elections in the Caribbean nation and said he looks forward to working closely with her to further strengthen the partnership.

“Heartiest congratulations @MPKamla on your victory in the elections. We cherish our historically close and familial ties with Trinidad and Tobago.

“I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our partnership for shared prosperity and well-being of our people.

The opposition centrist United National Congress (UNC) won the elections in the Caribbean twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago in Monday's parliamentary election, with UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar to be the next prime minister.

The 73-year-old already held the post once before, from 2010 to 2015, but her party was defeated in the last two elections by the centre-left People's National Movement (PNM).

The UNC campaigned on a promise to raise wages and create employment.

PNM leader Keith Rowley conceded defeat late on Monday, saying that it had not been a good night for his party and that it was clear that it had lost the election, the BBC reported.

Rowley, 75, served as prime minister from 2015 to March of this year, when he announced he was stepping down and handing the reins of power to the 50-year-old energy minister, Stuart Young.

But rather than serving out the remainder of Rowley's term, Young called a snap election just hours after being sworn in as prime minister.

The move was widely seen as an attempt by Young to secure a stronger mandate amid criticism by

the opposition that his elevation to prime minister was unconstitutional.

The election came at a time when the country is grappling with a rise in homicides and an economic slump.

The outgoing government declared a state of emergency in December, which stayed in force for 105 days.

During her campaign, Persad-Bissessar promised to raise wages for public sector workers who have been struggling to meet rising costs of living.

UNI RN