- Former prime minister Basdeo Panday has died
Basdeo Panday has passed away. Mickela Panday, his daughter, announced his death this afternoon.
On social media, she stated:
We regret to inform you that our wonderful husband and father, Basdeo Panday, died on January 1, 2024, surrounded by his family.
Panday celebrated his 90th birthday on May 25, stating that he had no plans to travel outside of Trinidad & Tobago to be with family and friends.
When his family recommended a trip to the Maldives or Disney World for his 90th birthday, Panday rejected, 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.”
On Tuesday night, a religious ceremony was organised in Panday’s honour at the NCIC Divali Nagar Site in Chaguanas, which was attended by his loved ones and closest friends.
Panday expressed his gratitude to everyone who assisted him in exceeding his biblical allocation of three scores and ten years by 20 years during the ceremony.
“Two former sugar workers were arguing about the reason I lived so long, and one said, ‘boy, somebody up there likes him,'” Panday recounted. ‘Boy, don’t be silly; nobody up there likes him,’ remarked the other. Someone up there knows who he is.”
“And if he should come up here, the first thing he would do is ask for shorter hours and higher wages for the angels,” he continued. If he doesn’t get it, the first thing he’ll do is strike, lock out, and move slowly. So just leave that guy down there.”
Panday stated that his wish “before going to the great beyond” is to spend time with his family and close friends.
Panday has worked as a lawyer, politician, trade unionist, economist, actor, and civil servant. From 1995 to 2001, he was the fifth Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago.
He founded the United National Congress (UNC) and served as its president until 2010.
