By Prior Beharry
POLITICAL Leader of the United National Congress (UNC) Kamla Persad-Bissessar says that she is grateful to her former leader Basdeo Panday who passed away on Monday.
She made the comment in a Facebook post in which she also put up a front page lead story of the Express in 1995 when Panday became the first prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago of Indian descent and she the first woman attorney general of the country.
Persad-Bissessar said, “I am saddened that Mr Panday has passed away. I will always love him and be grateful that he was a significant influence in my life.
“He was a great leader and spent most years of his life helping the oppressed and poor. Mr Panday will always be remembered with love and adoration by all of us whose lives he touched.
“I express my condolences to all his loved ones.
“May his soul rest in peace. He will be missed but will always be remembered and loved.”
On January 24, 2010, Persad-Bissessar beat Panday in UNC internal elections to become political leader. Only four months later, she was elected the first woman prime minister of T&T.
Since then, both did not share a close relationship, only recently spotted speaking to each other during the ceremonial opening of Parliament in September.
