Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan

Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan is a Trinidad and Tobago politician and former leader of the Congress of the People. She was a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for San Fernando West from 2010 until 2015.

The Honourable
Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan
Leader of the Congress of the People
In office
19 November 2017 – 11 August 2020
Preceded byPrakash Ramadhar
Succeeded byKirt Sinnette
Member of Parliament for San Fernando West
In office
24 May 2010 – 7 September 2015
Prime MinisterKamla Persad-Bissessar
Preceded byJunia Regrello
Succeeded byFaris Al-Rawi

Early life

Her mother is Irma Seepersad and her sister is Suzanne Seepersad.[1] She holds both a bachelors and masters degree in engineering.[2] In 1996, she was appointed as chairman of the National Petroleum Marketing Company.[3] She was a lecturer in engineering at the University of the West Indies for over twenty years.[4] She also served as a member of the UWI Board of Engineering Institute.[5]

Political career

Seepersad-Bachan was appointed as an Opposition Senator in the Senate from 17 October 2002 to 29 June 2006 as a representative of the United National Congress.[2] She was one of the founding members of the Congress of the People in September 2006 and was appointed a deputy political leader.[3]

She was elected to the House of Representatives as the member for the electoral district of San Fernando West on 24 May 2010. She was affiliated with the Congress of the People, which was a member of the People's Partnership at the time. She was appointed Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs on 28 May 2010, becoming the first female energy minister in Trinidad and Tobago.[6] She held this position until 27 June 2011 when she was appointed Minister of Public Administration.[2] She chose not to run for re-election in the 2015 general election due to differences in opinion with the People's Partnership leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, and the Congress of the People leader, Prakash Ramadhar.[7]

On 19 November 2017, Seepersad-Bachan won the leadership elections for the Congress of the People, beating Sharon Ann Gopaul-McNicol, and took over as party leader.[8][9] She contested the electoral district of St. Augustine in the 2020 general election but lost to Khadijah Ameen. She resigned as party leader of the Congress of the People on 11 August 2020.[10]

Seepersad-Bachan received her LLB from the University of London and completed the legal practice course at Staffordshire University. She then completed six months of legal training, including participating in the first judge-only trial in San Fernando. She was called to the bar at the Hall of Justice in Port Spain on 10 May 2019.[1]

Personal life

Seepersad-Bachan is married to Suresh Bachan and has two children: Suren and Saskia.[1][5]

References
  1. Swamber, Keino (12 May 2019). "Seepersad-Bachan now an attorney". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  2. "The Honourable Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, MP". Trinidad and Tobago Parliament. Archived from the original on 2017-06-13. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  3. Gumbs-Sandiford, Anika (7 April 2012). "No stranger to controversy". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  4. Alexander, Gail (7 July 2020). "Carolyn seeks to have COP retake St Augustine". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  5. "Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan | COP: St. Augustine". Trinidad Express. 6 August 2020. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  6. "Interview with Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, minister of public administration". The Report Company. 30 January 2014. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  7. Webb, Yvonne (10 July 2015). "COP facing void in Sando West". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  8. Ram, Ryan (22 November 2017). "Seepersad-Bachan Elected New Leader of COP". The West Indian Online. Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  9. De Souza, Janelle (19 November 2017). "Carolyn, Sharon ready for COP race". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  10. Ria, Chaitram (12 August 2020). "Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan resigns as COP leader". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
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