Former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Basdeo Panday Passes Away at 90: A Leader Remembered

(Trinidad Express) — Former Trinidad and Tobago prime minister Basdeo Panday has passed away.

His death was announced by daughter Mickela Panday this afternoon.

She wrote on social media:

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 celebrated his 90th birthday on May 25, saying he had no intention of being anywhere else in the world, other than his beloved Trinidad and Tobago, with family and friends.

So when his family suggested a celebration in the Maldives or Disney World, Panday declined, saying, “My desire was not to be anywhere else on this my 90th birthday than to be with my family and dear friends whom I have neglected for so many years while I was consumed with politics.”

A religious celebration was held in Panday’s honour at the NCIC Divali Nagar Site, Chaguanas, on Tuesday night, attended by his loved ones and dearest friends.

Panday said during the celebration he was grateful to those responsible for helping him exceed his biblical allotment of three score and ten by 20 years.

And in his usual jovial manner, Panday explained why: “Two former sugar workers were arguing over the reason I lived so long and one said ‘boy somebody up there likes him’. The other one said, ‘boy don’t be stupid, nobody up there likes him…somebody up there know him.”

He continued, “And if he should come up here, the first thing he would do is ask for shorter hours and higher wages for the angels. And if he doesn’t get it, first thing he would do is strike, lock out, go slow. So leave that fella right down there.”

Panday said his wish “before going to the great beyond” would be to spend time with his family and very good friends.

Panday has held the positions of lawyer, politician, trade unionist, economist, actor, and former civil servant who served as the fifth prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2001.

He was the founder of the United National Congress (UNC) and remained political leader until 2010.