Biographical Summary
of the
Honourable Basdeo Panday
Prime Minister of
Trinidad and Tobago
NAME: BASDEO PANDAY
DATE OF BIRTH: May 25th, 1933
PLACE OF BIRTH: St. Julien Road, Princes Town, Trinidad.
NATIONALITY: Citizen of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
MARITAL STATUS: Married to Oma Panday (formerly Ramkissoon)
CHILDREN: Four daughters: Niala, Mickela, Nicola and Vasta
RELIGION: Hindu
HOBBIES: Music, Reading and Chess
SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENTS:
1951: Senior Cambridge Certificate, Presentation College, Trinidad
1960: Diploma in Drama, London School of Dramatic Arts
1962: Barrister at Law, Lincoln's Inn, London
1965: B.Sc. Economics, London University
PROFESSIONAL CAREER:
1956-1957: Legal Adviser, Oilfield Trade Workers Union (OWTU)
1965: Attorney at Law (Private Practice)
1973-1995: President General, All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union
1975: Legal Adviser to the Association of Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Staff
POLITICAL CAREER:
1976: Founder and Political Leader of the United Labour Front (ULF)
1976: Member of Parliament, Couva North (ULF)
1981-1986: Leader of the Opposition (ULF)
1986: The United Labour Front (ULF) merged into the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) with the Democratic Action Congress and the Tapia House Movement
1988: Minister of External Affairs and International Trade, Member of Parliament, Couva North (NAR)
1988: Resigned from the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) and launched a new party - Club '88. This new party became the United National Congress (UNC)
1989 - date: Political Leader of the United National Congress (UNC)
1995: Leader of the Opposition (UNC)
09.11.95: Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
AWARDS:
1995: Express 'Individual of the Year' (Trinidad Express Newspapers, Trinidad)
1997: Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree (Benares University, India)