Basdeo Panday

It just seems impossible to keep the name Basdeo Panday out of the news in Trinidad and Tobago and indeed the Caribbean.

The former Trinidad and Tobago prime minister made headlines around the region again when the Appeal Court in Port of Spain quashed his conviction on three charges of failing to declare a London bank account to the Integrity Commission while he served as leader of the twin island republic.

The court also set aside his two-year jail term and ordered that he would have to go on trial before a new magistrate.

Born on May 25, 1933 in a rural village in Princes Town, Panday served as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from November 1995 to December 2001 and as leader of the Leader of the Opposition from 1976–1977, 1978–1986, 1989–1995 and 2001–2006.

He was first elected to Parliament in 1976 as the Member for Couva North.

He is currently Chairman and interim party leader of the opposition United National Congress.