The Opposition UNC used a portion of its International Women’s Day Message to praise leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, saying that as the first woman Attorney General and later Prime Minister of T&T, she has “broken more glass ceilings in our society than any other woman in history.”

The party says it is confident “she will never be surpassed in this regard.”   

“To remind the population, especially our young people, in 1995, Mrs. Persad-Bissessar broke our country’s first major glass ceiling by being appointed the first woman Attorney-General in Trinidad and Tobago’s history. In 2010, she became the first woman leader of a major political party in Trinidad and Tobago, then the country’s first woman Leader of Opposition, and finally the first woman Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, all in the same year. It was an incredible set of achievements that inspired and cleared the way for all women in our society, and even beyond,” the statement read.

The statement said the party vows to continue to fight and advocate for the rights and economic and social conditions of women, including their safety from sexual assault, domestic abuse, home invasions, murder and other violent crimes. 

“The UNC remains tireless in our fight for the improvement of the lives of women. We congratulate and honour all the women of Trinidad and Tobago for their essential contribution to our society,” it said.