image.png Former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Basdeo Panday 1933 -2024
The best-looking leader in CARICOM, handsome. Panday, charismatic fifth Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from November 9th, 1995 to December 24th, 2001 left for his heavenly abode on New Year’s Day. Beloved Bas was a superb statesman, gifted orator, popular patriot, attractive family man and eminent politician, distinguished by grace, wit and a magnetic smile rare in the corridors of power.
Born of classical Hindu stock in rural heartlands of St Julien Village, Princes Town, he attended New Grant Government School, St Julien Presbyterian School and Presentation College, San Fernando.. He taught in primary school and served in agriculture and Magistrate Courts.
From 1957, Panday studied in the United Kingdom. He gained a diploma from London School of Dramatic Art in 1960 and a law degree in 1962 from Inns of Court School of Law where he was a member of Lincoln’s Inn and was called to the bar. He received a Bachelor of Science in economics from London University in 1965. In London he worked on a building site, as a clerk at the County Council and an electrician. Acting roles include Nine Hours to Rama (1963) and The Winston Affair (1964). Returning to Trinidad, in 1965 he joined the Workers and Farmers Party. He entered Parliament in 1972 as an opposition senator for the Democratic Labour Party (DLP). In 1973 he joined the All Trinidad Sugar Estates and Factory Workers Union and became the president general . In 1975, Panday co- founded the United Labour Front (ULF). In 1976, he won the Couva North constituency seat at the general election and became Opposition Leader.
Panday co-founded the Trinidad and Tobago National Alliance with the Democratic Action Congress and Tapia House Group. Evolving in 1984 as the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), in 1985 it merged with the Organisation for National Reconstruction. In 1986 they won the general election decisively . Panday was named Minister of External Affairs and International Trade. Panday and other ministers were expelled from the party in 1988 and founded the United National Congress (UNC) on April 30, 1989. In the 1995 general election the UNC and NAR formed a coalition and he became Prime Minister . In 2000, Panday led the UNC to election victory again and became Prime Minister for a second time. In 2001 Panday called a new election and the UNC and PNM tied with 18 seats each . Then-president Arthur Robinson chose the PNM to lead the country. Parliament was dissolved, new elections were called in 2002 after it failed to elect a Speaker and courageous Panday returned as Opposition Leader. In September 2005, Panday nominated Winston Dookeran as successor party leader who then formed the Congress of the People (COP). On January 24, 2010, Panday was defeated in the UNC internal elections by Kamla Persad-Bissessar who replaced him on February 25, 2010.
The role model of discipline, tolerance and production leaves a legacy of leadership in constitutional reform, business-friendly policy, industrial peace,, crime reduction, social development, welfare, inclusion, justice, equality and access to secondary and tertiary education.
Having returned from the USA where he died, Panday will lie in state at the Red House on 5th January and on 8th January at SAPA, San Fernando, ahead of a state funeral on 9th January according to Hindu rites.