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January 30, 2024
As Big Drum Nation joins the region in bidding farewell to the charismatic yet enigmatic 5th Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Basdeo Panday (1933-2024), we are reminded of [recall] his profound impact.
The Golden Fox was known for his dynamic leadership in workers’ advocacy, party politics, and national unity with a characteristic of unwavering determination, leaving deep footprints on the nation and the region. As such, we present three reflections on our recently transitioned firebrand: in “Panday’s Legacy“, Duff Mitchell interviews Trinidad and Tobago fellow trade union leader and political commentator Rafique Shah, who had the privilege of a working, though sometimes antagonistic, relationship with the iconic figure.
In “Basdeo Panday – Is The Enigma Answered,” Clyde Weatherhead probes the Panday mystery, exploring why the ‘Bas’ defies narrow political typecasting. And rounding off the section, we republish a futuristic piece, “The Roots of Our Trouble*” Winthrop R. Holder examines the legacy of Panday among the pantheon of iconic Caribbean leadership.
These contributions appraise Basdeo Panday’s memory and legacy while underscoring his place in Trinbago’s, Progressive’s, and Caribbean historiography.
*Previously published in Everybody’s Magazine