Indian origin man to lead Trinidad opposition party

Kamla Persad-Bissesar, a person of Indian origin has been named as the leader of opposition in Trinidad & Tobago Parliament.

Kamla Persad-Bissesar, a member of Parliament belonging to the United National Congress (UNC) party, has been named as the leader of the opposition in the Trinidad & Tobago Parliament.

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Persad-Bissessar was unanimously named the new opposition leader in an executive committee meeting of the UNC after a court in Port-of-Spain sentenced sitting leader of opposition and former prime minister Basdeo Pandey to two years in jail for making false statements to the country's Integrity Commission.

Persad-Bissesar, a person of Indian origin, said that she would work for unity within the UNC.

"I am willing to work and further the vision of the UNC and the mission of the UNC," she said. She represents the town of Siparia in southern Trinidad.

Persad-Bissesar was officially presented the instrument of appointment from President George Maxwell Richards by House of Representatives speaker Barry Sinanan.

Persad Bissessar had earlier served as acting prime minister, attorney general and minister of education.

Fellow MP, Roodal Moonilal, said that Persad-Bisessar has "enormous experience in political and public life."

Panday was sentenced to jail on Monday for having failed to declare a bank account he had held in Britain with his wife, as required by Trinidad law.

The news has shaken the political world in the Caribbean region.