Christine Carla Kangaloo, a former president of the Trinidad and Tobago Senate, was sworn into office Monday as the seventh president of the twin island republic.
Ms Kangaloo, 62, has promised to dymistify the office as well as encourage intellectual, cultural and artistic debates in the country.
The second consecutive woman to be elected to the largely ceremonial post, also promised to be engaged in "relentless advocacy" to achieve her aims. She said this will be done diplomatically without "acrimony or bitterness" and that much emphasis will be placed on the development of the youth.
President Kangloo's nomination had been opposed by the main opposition United National Congress that named prominent criminal attorney Israel Khan as its candidate.
However, he was defeated during the secret balloting by the Electoral College that comprised legislators from both houses of Parliament.
Ms Kangaloo replaces Paula Mae-Weekes, who did not seek a further five-year term.
