Basdeo Panday has Died

By Prior Beharry

FORMER prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago Basdeo Panday has died. He was 90.

He passed away after ailing and was taken for treatment in the United States a few weeks ago.

A post on the Facebook page of his daughter Mickela Panday on Monday, New Year’s Day, stated, “With deep sorrow, we would like to share that our loving husband and father, Basdeo Panday passed away on 1st January 2024, surrounded by his family.

“In life and death he was a fighter. He passed with his boots on, keeping everybody around him on their toes with his wit and humour.

“He will live on in all of us, remembered as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, leader, and friend.

“He was an inspiration to his family and everybody that knew him.

“We will continue to celebrate his life and treasure the time we were able to spend with him.”

Panday, an attorney who was a trade union leader, first became opposition leader in 1976 and was the first person of Indian descent to be elected as prime minister of T&T.

He became prime minister in 1995 and served in that position until 2001. He formed the United Labour Front (ULF) that later became the United National Congress (UNC)- T&T’s current opposition party.

He retired from active politics in 2010 after losing the political leadership of his party to former prime minister and current Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.