The Honourable
Bridgid Annisette-George
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Assumed office
23 September 2015
PresidentChristine Kangaloo
Paula-Mae Weekes
Anthony Carmona
Prime MinisterKeith Rowley
Preceded byWade Mark
Attorney General
In office
8 November 2007 – 29 May 2009
PresidentGeorge Maxwell Richards
Prime MinisterPatrick Manning
Preceded byJohn Jeremie
Succeeded byJohn Jeremie
Personal details
Born
Bridgid Annisette
NationalityTrinidadian and Tobagonian
Political partyPeople's National Movement
Alma materUniversity of the West Indies
Hugh Wooding Law School
Profession
  • Lawyer
  • politician

Bridgid Annisette-George is a Trinidad and Tobago lawyer and politician. She has been the Speaker of House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago since 2015, the second female to hold the position and currently the world's second longest female incumbent to consecutively hold the office of Speaker. She previously served as a Senator and the third female Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago for the PNM[1] before resigning to return to her private law practice.

Biography

Annisette was born in Trinidad and attended St. Joseph's Convent, Port of Spain in Port of Spain[2] and went on to study law at the University of the West Indies. She graduated with a Bachelors of Law in 1981.[3] Annisette married Newman George, an engineer.[4]

George became an associate tutor and lecturer at the Hugh Wooding Law School and the sole practicing attorney at the firm of Messrs. G.R. Annisette & Co. Between 1999 and 2003, George served as chair of the Diego Martin Regional Corporation and in 2003, served as a Commissioner on the Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission.[3] In 2007, she was appointed as a Senator[5] and 8 November 2007 became Attorney General, third woman of Trinidad and Tobago to hold the position.[3] After serving eighteen months in the position, George resigned due to a conflict of interest in an ongoing investigation concerning the Colonial Life Insurance Company, as she had family members who were associated with the company.[4] She was commended for her voluntary disclosure by colleagues[2][6] and it was noted that there was no implication of involvement by George or her family members in the matter involving Colonial Life.[7] She returned to her private practice.[8]

In 2015, the People's National Movement won the majority in the elections and George was tapped to run for Speaker of the House.[9] She was subsequently elected to the post.[10]

References

  1. ^ "H.E. Bridgid Mary Annisette-George – Global Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament". Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Jeremie ready for the 'challenge'". Trinidad Express. Port of Spain, Trinidad. 28 May 2009. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "The Honourable Bridgid Annisette-George". Port of Spain, Trinidad: Ministry of the Attorney General. Archived from the original on 16 May 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  4. ^ a b Bagoo, Andre (28 May 2009). "Cabinet Split". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Port of Spain, Trinidad. Archived from the original on 29 October 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  5. ^ "Appointment as Senators" (PDF). Trinidad and Tobago Gazette. Vol. 46, no. 189. Port of Spain, Trinidad. 14 November 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  6. ^ Ramjeet, Oscar (28 May 2009). "Trinidad attorney general quits after 18 months". Caribbean News Now. Dallas, Texas. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  7. ^ Lord, Richard (5 June 2009). "Annisette-George: T&T needs fairer justice". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Port of Spain, Trinidad. Retrieved 7 February 2016.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "AG Quits". Trinidad Express. Port of Spain, Trinidad. 27 May 2009. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  9. ^ Lord, Richard (16 September 2015). "Parliament convenes on Sept 23". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Port of Spain, Trinidad. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Congratulations to all". Tobago News. Scarborough, Tobago. 30 September 2015. Archived from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2016.

External links

Political offices Preceded byJohn Jeremie Attorney General 2007-2009 Succeeded byJohn Jeremie Political offices Preceded byWade Mark Speaker of the House of Representatives 2015–present Incumbent
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