“If you see me and a lion fighting, don’t feel sorry for me, feel sorry for the lion.”
THOSE were the famous fighting words of former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday and so he lived his life.
As the world celebrated the first day of the new year, on January 1, Panday passed away at 90 and, according to his daughter, Mickela, he died with his boots on.

Mickela, a former Oropouche West MP and the only child to follow in her father’s political footsteps, shared with the nation via a Facebook post last night that her father had died.

She wrote: “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 was married to Oma Panday. He had four daughters: Niala, Mickela, Nicola and Vastala. Niala was born to his first wife, Norma Panday, who died in 1981.

Panday had suffered heart issues, undergoing triple bypass surgery in 1989 and an angioplasty procedure in 1995.
On December 14, 2023, his family issued a statement regarding his health.
They said that, after consultation with his doctors in Trinidad and Tobago, Panday travelled to the US to investigate medical concerns about his health.

As news spread of his death, social media was flooded with posts, photos and tributes to the first Prime Minister of Indian descent who was hailed as Trinidad and Tobago’s “best Prime Minister” by many.
Panday was born on May 25, 1933 and served as this country’s fifth Prime Minister between 1995 and 2001. (Trinidad Express)