Shelly Dass

Shelly Dass (now possibly Dass Manning) is an international and government relations strategy advisor. She has worked with public and private partners on energy and development projects across the Americas. She has served as a senior political advisor in Washington, D.C to the Organization of American States working with 34 member states and 64 observer countries, partner agencies and special interest groups. Shelly Dass started her career as a journalist, television news anchor and current affairs producer and has been recognized for her work in media through multiple local, regional and international awards.

Dass worked as the highest rated television news presenter in Trinidad and Tobago through May 2010. She was anchor of the nightly newscast on Cable News Channel 3.

Childhood and early career Dass was born and raised in the private oil community of Pointe-a-Pierre, south Trinidad. Her father was a senior employee of Texaco, Trintoc, and state-owned Petrotrin for many years. She was educated at St Peters' Private Primary School in Pointe-a-Pierre, St. Joseph's Convent, and later, Oral Roberts University in the United States, where she studied broadcast journalism. Manning is the son of former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, the late Patrick Manning, and former education minister Hazel Manning.

Dass was previously married to Robert Clarke, a producer and reporter in a million dollar beachfront ceremony at a private family owned resort in Tobago. Clarke is the great great grandson of Captain Arthur Andrew Cipriani, former Trinidad & Tobago politician, mayor, and trade union leader. Clarke, a journalist and writer, met Dass during a cabinet press conference in Port of Spain. The couple is divorced and share one child together.