The leader of the United National Congress political party, she took office in 2010 as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. Earlier in her career, she had represented the town of Sipari in the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament.
She studied at the University of the West Indies, the Hugh Wooding Law School, and the Arthur Lok Jack Business School.
She was the first woman to hold office as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.
Her marriage to Gregory Bissessar produced one son.
She succeeded Patrick Manning as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.
