Leader of the Opposition (Trinidad and Tobago)

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Leader of the Opposition of the
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Coat of arms of Trinidad and Tobago (2025).svg
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg
Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago visits the Senedd Prif Weinidog Trinidad a Tobago yn ymweld a'r Senedd.jpg
since 9 September 2015;9 years ago (2015-09-09)
Official Opposition
Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago
Leader of the Opposition's Office
Style The Honorable (formal)
Leader of the Opposition (spoken)
Member of
Reports to Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago
Seat Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Chloe Building, 11 Charles Street, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago [1]
Nominator House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago
Appointer President of Trinidad and Tobago
Term length While leader of the largest political party in the House of Representatives that is not in government
Constituting instrument Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago
Inaugural holder Ashford Sastri Sinanan (Legislative Council of British Trinidad and Tobago)
Rudranath Capildeo (Parliament of the Dominion of Trinidad and Tobago)
Basdeo Panday (Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago)
Formation31 August 1962;62 years ago (1962-08-31)
Salary TT$355,080 per annum (2019) [2]
Website www.ttparliament.org/members.php?mid=24

The Leader of the Opposition (officially the Leader of the Opposition of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago) is the leader of the largest political party in the House of Representatives that is not in government.

Contents

The Leader of the Opposition is a member of the House of Representatives, and is appointed by the President of Trinidad and Tobago.

The current Leader of the Opposition is Kamla Persad-Bissessar, leader of the United National Congress.

Leaders of the Opposition of Trinidad and Tobago

  DLP (3)   ULF (2)   UNC (2)   PNM (2)   Independent (2)   PDP (1)
Opposition Leader [3] Term of office

Duration in years and days

ParliamentPartyElectionHead of Government
Chief Minister(1950-1959)
Premier(1959-1962)
Prime Minister(1962-present)
Head of State
Monarch/Governor(1951-1962)
Monarch/Governor-General(1962-1976)
President(1976-present)
No.PortraitOpposition Leader
(birth–death)
Constituency
Took officeLeft office
  1 Male portrait placeholder cropped.jpg Ashford Sastri Sinanan

(1923–1994)

Member for Victoria South

19511956 8th Legislative Council

(1950–1956)

Independent 1950 Albert Gomes
(1950–1956)

as Chief Minister

George VI
(1936–1952)
Hubert Rance
(1950–1955)
Elizabeth II
(1952–1976)
Edward Beetham
(1955–1960)
BhadaseSaganMaraj.jpg Bhadase Sagan Maraj

(1920–1971)

Member for Caroni North

Acting Opposition Leaders during Maraj's term:

26 October 195621 September 1961 9th Legislative Council

(1956–1961)

People's Democratic Party (1956-1957) 1956 Eric Williams
(1956–1981)

as Chief Minister
(1956–1959),

as Premier
(1959–1962),

as Prime Minister
(1962–1981)
  24 years, 330 days Democratic Labour Party (1957-1961) Solomon Hochoy
(1960–1972)
 1 Rudranath Capildeo.jpg Rudranath Capildeo

(1920–1970)

MP for Saint Augustine (1961–1966)

MP for Chaguanas (1966–1967)

Acting Opposition Leaders during Capildeo's term:

29 December 1961June 1967 1st Independent Parliament

(1961–1966)

Democratic Labour Party 1961
2nd Independent Parliament

(1966–1967)

1966
5 years, 4 months
 2 Male portrait placeholder cropped.jpg Vernon Jamadar

(1929–2002)

MP for Oropouche

July 19671971 2nd Independent Parliament

(1967–1971)

Democratic Labour Party
 3 Male portrait placeholder cropped.jpg John R.F. Richardson

(1926–2001) [4]

MP for Point Fortin

21 July 197219 June 1976 3rd Independent Parliament

(1972–1976)

Independent 1971 [a] Ellis Clarke
(1972–1976)
3 years, 334 days
 4 Basdeo Panday with Mikko Pyhala (Ambassador of Finland) (cropped).jpg Basdeo Panday

(1933–2024)

MP for Couva North

19761977 1st Republican Parliament

(1976–1977)

United Labour Front 1976 Ellis Clarke
(1976–1987)
 5 RaffiqueShah.png Raffique Shah

(born 1946)

MP for Siparia

9 August 197731 March 1978 1st Republican Parliament

(1977–1978)

United Labour Front
234 days
 (4) Basdeo Panday with Mikko Pyhala (Ambassador of Finland) (cropped).jpg Basdeo Panday

(1933–2024)

MP for Couva North

19781986 1st Republican Parliament

(1978–1981)

United Labour Front
2nd Republican Parliament

(1981–1986)

1981 George Chambers
(1981–1986)
 6 Patrick Manning 2008.jpg Patrick Manning

(1946–2016)

MP for San Fernando East

19861990 2nd Republican Parliament

(1986)

People's National Movement 1986 A. N. R. Robinson
(1986–1991)
3rd Republican Parliament

(1987–1990)

Noor Mohamed Hassanali
(1987–1997)
 (4) Basdeo Panday with Mikko Pyhala (Ambassador of Finland) (cropped).jpg Basdeo Panday

(1933–2024)

MP for Couva North

19906 November 1995 3rd Republican Parliament

(1990–1991)

United National Congress 1991 Patrick Manning (1991–1995)
4th Republican Parliament

(1992–1995)

 (6) Patrick Manning 2008.jpg Patrick Manning

(1946–2016)

MP for San Fernando East

6 November 199524 December 2001 5th Republican Parliament

(1995–2000)

People's National Movement 1995 Basdeo Panday
(1995–2001)
6th Republican Parliament

(2001)

2000 A. N. R. Robinson
(1997–2003)
2 years, 109 days
 (4) Basdeo Panday with Mikko Pyhala (Ambassador of Finland) (cropped).jpg Basdeo Panday

(1933–2024)

MP for Couva North

24 December 200126 April 2006 7th Republican Parliament

(2002)

United National Congress 2001 Patrick Manning
(2001–2010)
8th Republican Parliament

(2002–2006)

2002
4 years, 123 days George Maxwell Richards
(2003-2013)
 7 Kamla Persad-Bissesar 2013.jpg Kamla Persad-Bissessar

(born 1952)

MP for Siparia

26 April 20068 November 2007 9th Republican Parliament

(2007–2010)

United National Congress 2007
1 year, 196 days
 (4) Basdeo Panday with Mikko Pyhala (Ambassador of Finland) (cropped).jpg Basdeo Panday

(1933–2024)

MP for Couva North

8 November 200725 February 2010 9th Republican Parliament

(2007–2010)

United National Congress
2 years, 109 days
 (7) Kamla Persad-Bissesar 2013.jpg Kamla Persad-Bissessar

(born 1952)

MP for Siparia

25 February 201026 May 2010 9th Republican Parliament

(2007–2010)

United National Congress
90 days
 8 KeithRowley.jpg Keith Rowley

(born 1949)

MP for Diego Martin West

26 May 20109 September 2015 [5] 10th Republican Parliament

(2010–2015)

People's National Movement 2010 Kamla Persad-Bissessar
(2010–2015)
5 years, 106 days Anthony Carmona
(2013–2018)
 (7) Kamla Persad-Bissesar 2013.jpg Kamla Persad-Bissessar

(born 1952)

MP for Siparia

9 September 2015Incumbent 11th Republican Parliament

(2015–2020)

United National Congress 2015 Keith Rowley
(2015–present)
12th Republican Parliament

(2020–present)

2020 Paula-Mae Weekes
(2018–2023)
Christine Kangaloo
2023-present

See also

Footnotes

  1. Originally elected as MP for Point Fortin under the PNM in 1971, but became an independent in July 1972 and was appointed Leader of the Opposition, as thus he was the only non-PNM member of the House of Representatives, as the DLP had protested the 1971 election and only the PNM won.

References

  1. "Trinidad and Tobago Parliament".
  2. "DRAFT ESTIMATES OF THE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE 2019" (PDF). Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  3. "Trinidad and Tobago Parliament". www.ttparliament.org. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  4. "Caribbean Elections Biography | John R.F. Richardson". www.caribbeanelections.com. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  5. "Rowley sworn in as T&T PM". 9 September 2015.