PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar has once again sought to reassure citizens that she is in “good health” and that she intends to carry out her responsibilities as head of government.

The 73-year-old senior counsel told a news conference on Thursday night that she is aware of concerns regarding her health, but that “let not your hearts be troubled, I am fully able and competent to discharge my duties”.

“Thanks to all those expressing concerns about my health and ability to carry out my responsibilities and functions as your prime minister,” she told reporters at the first post cabinet news conference since her United National Congress (UNC) led coalition of interests won the April 28 general election, claiming 26 of the 41 seats at stake.

There has been widespread speculation about the Prime Minister Persad Bissessar’s health, given her decision to work from home in Penal, over the last four days instead of going to the prime minister’s office in the capital.

“They told me to leave this out, but I really want to deal with it. I want to thank so many of you who have reached out expressing concerns about my health. I want to give you the assurance that I am in good health.

“I want to thank you for your concern. I think some people are just missing seeing me. So when you don’t see me for a day, you think I have lost ten toes…Can I just show you I have all ten toes and all ten fingers?

“I am in good health and I thank God for that, and my health remains in the hands of the Lord,” she said.

“Never fear,” she told reporters as members of her cabinet applauded.

Persad Bissessar, who is the first woman ever to become prime minister, on two occasions, said she also wanted to address concerns regarding where she would be working from.

“Thanks for expressing concern about office space to carry out my responsibilities. I will be working out of facilities in Port of Spain, central, south Trinidad and Tobago and my home as necessary and convenient. I do not receive a housing allowance for working from my home.”

She said that for the period 2020 to 2025, the last People’s National Movement (PNM) cabinet held a total of 298 Cabinet meetings virtually, saying “that is five and a half years of virtual Cabinet meetings”.

She said another subcommittee of the Cabinet held 200 virtual meetings for the same period.

She defended the decision to work from various locations, saying, “It is also sharing our governance with a wide cross-section of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.”

“The country doesn’t begin and end at the lighthouse (in Port of Spain). When we use facilities in various parts of the islands, we can meet people from there as well. So we will not be a government for Port of Spain, of Port of Spain and by Port of Spain.”