Background
Persad-Bissessar, Kamla was born on April 22, 1952 in Siparia, Trinidad & Tobago.
Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago
Persad-Bissessar, Kamla was born on April 22, 1952 in Siparia, Trinidad & Tobago.
Attended, Norwood Technology College, England. Bachelor, University Wisconsin, 1974. Diploma in education, University Wisconsin, 1976.
Bachelor of Laws, Hugh Wooding Law School, 1987. Master of Business Administration, Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School Business, Trinidad & Tobago.
She was the country"s first female prime minister. She was the first woman to serve as Attorney General, acting Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition of Trinidad and Tobago. She became Political Leader of the United National Congress 2010.
She was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), a Diploma in Education, a Bachelor of Arts of Laws (Honours) and a Legal Education Certificate.
In 2006 she obtained an Executive Masters in Business Administration (EMBA) from the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business, Trinidad. When the United National Congress formed Government on 22 December 2000, she was sworn in as the Minister of Education.
On 25 April 2006 she received the support of the majority of Opposition MPs for the post of Leader of the Opposition. The position of Leader of the Opposition was declared vacant by President George Maxwell Richards after Basdeo Panday was convicted of failing to make an accurate declaration to the Integrity Commission concerning a bank account held in London.
Persad-Bissessar was subsequently appointed Leader of the Opposition on 26 April 2006.
Political leader
She was formally appointed Opposition Leader on 25 February 2010, having gained the support of a majority of University of North Carolina MPs. Prime Minister
She was the first female Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and is also the first female Commonwealth Chairperson-in-Office. She was succeeded as Chairperson-in-Office by Julia Gillard with the opening of the 2011 CHOGM on 28 October 2011.
Leader of the Opposition
On September 21, 2015, Mistress
Persad-Bissessar was appointed Leader of the Opposition by President Anthony Carmona after her party was defeated at the polls, following the September 7, 2015 general elections.
Persad-Bissessar is the Political Leader of the United National Congress and is the current Leader of the Opposition of the People"s Partnership coalition in the eleventh parliament, a coalition of three parties, which was formed to contest the general election of 24 May 2010. She served as Attorney General in 1995 until Ramesh Maharaj was able to disassociate himself from ongoing cases and again in 2001 after Maharaj left the party. Persad-Bissessar took office as Prime Minister after the victory of the People"s Partnership in the general election of 24 May 2010, defeating the previous government of the People"s National Movement, which had called an early election.
The People"s National Movement lead by Doctor Keith Rowley secured 23 out of 41 seats to form the government, while the People"s Partnership coalition lead by Persad-Bissessar secured 18 out of the 41 seats in the House of Representatives to form the opposition.
Persad-Bissessar has served as Member of Parliament for the Siparia constituency since 1995.
Married Gregory Bissessar.