# Leader of the Opposition (Trinidad and Tobago)

The Leader of the Opposition (officially the Leader of the Opposition of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago) is the leader of the largest political party in the House of Representatives that is not in government.
The Leader of the Opposition is a member of the House of Representatives, and is appointed by the President of Trinidad and Tobago.
The current Leader of the Opposition is Kamla Persad-Bissessar, leader of the United National Congress.

## Leaders of the Opposition of Trinidad and Tobago

DLP (3)   ULF (2)   UNC (2)   PNM (2)   Independent (2)   PDP (1) :
| Opposition Leader | Opposition Leader | Opposition Leader | Term of office Duration in years and days | Term of office Duration in years and days | Parliament | Party | Election | Head of Government Chief Minister (1950-1959) Premier (1959-1962) Prime Minister (1962-present) | Head of Government Chief Minister (1950-1959) Premier (1959-1962) Prime Minister (1962-present) | Head of State Monarch/Governor (1951-1962) Monarch/Governor-General (1962-1976) President (1976-present) | Head of State Monarch/Governor (1951-1962) Monarch/Governor-General (1962-1976) President (1976-present) |
| No. | Portrait | Opposition Leader (birth–death) Constituency | Took office | Left office | Parliament | Party | Election | Head of Government Chief Minister (1950-1959) Premier (1959-1962) Prime Minister (1962-present) | Head of Government Chief Minister (1950-1959) Premier (1959-1962) Prime Minister (1962-present) | Head of State Monarch/Governor (1951-1962) Monarch/Governor-General (1962-1976) President (1976-present) | Head of State Monarch/Governor (1951-1962) Monarch/Governor-General (1962-1976) President (1976-present) |
| 1 | | Ashford Sastri Sinanan (1923–1994) Member for Victoria South | 1951 | 1956 | 8th Legislative Council (1950–1956) | Independent | 1950 | | Albert Gomes (1950–1956) as Chief Minister | George VI (1936–1952) | Hubert Rance (1950–1955) |
| 1 | | Ashford Sastri Sinanan (1923–1994) Member for Victoria South | | | 8th Legislative Council (1950–1956) | Independent | 1950 | | Albert Gomes (1950–1956) as Chief Minister | Elizabeth II (1952–1976) | Edward Beetham (1955–1960) |
| | | Bhadase Sagan Maraj (1920–1971) Member for Caroni North Acting Opposition Leaders during Maraj's term: A. P. T. James (1959)Simbhoonath Capildeo (1959-1961) | 26 October 1956 | 21 September 1961 | 9th Legislative Council (1956–1961) | People's Democratic Party (1956-1957) | 1956 | | Eric Williams (1956–1981) as Chief Minister (1956–1959), as Premier (1959–1962), as Prime Minister (1962–1981) | Elizabeth II (1952–1976) | Edward Beetham (1955–1960) |
| 2 | | Bhadase Sagan Maraj (1920–1971) Member for Caroni North Acting Opposition Leaders during Maraj's term: A. P. T. James (1959)Simbhoonath Capildeo (1959-1961) | 4 years, 330 days | 4 years, 330 days | 9th Legislative Council (1956–1961) | Democratic Labour Party (1957-1961) | 1956 | | Eric Williams (1956–1981) as Chief Minister (1956–1959), as Premier (1959–1962), as Prime Minister (1962–1981) | Elizabeth II (1952–1976) | Solomon Hochoy (1960–1972) |
| 1 | | Rudranath Capildeo (1920–1970) MP for Saint Augustine(1961–1966) MP for Chaguanas (1966–1967) Acting Opposition Leaders during Capildeo's term: Ashford Sastri Sinanan (1962)Stephen Carpoondeo Maharaj (1963–1965)Simbhoonath Capildeo (1965)Vernon Jamadar (1965–1967) | 29 December 1961 | June 1967 | 1st Independent Parliament (1961–1966) | Democratic Labour Party | 1961 | | Eric Williams (1956–1981) as Chief Minister (1956–1959), as Premier (1959–1962), as Prime Minister (1962–1981) | Elizabeth II (1952–1976) | Solomon Hochoy (1960–1972) |
| 1 | | Rudranath Capildeo (1920–1970) MP for Saint Augustine(1961–1966) MP for Chaguanas (1966–1967) Acting Opposition Leaders during Capildeo's term: Ashford Sastri Sinanan (1962)Stephen Carpoondeo Maharaj (1963–1965)Simbhoonath Capildeo (1965)Vernon Jamadar (1965–1967) | 29 December 1961 | June 1967 | 2nd Independent Parliament (1966–1967) | Democratic Labour Party | 1966 | | Eric Williams (1956–1981) as Chief Minister (1956–1959), as Premier (1959–1962), as Prime Minister (1962–1981) | Elizabeth II (1952–1976) | Solomon Hochoy (1960–1972) |
| Solomon Hochoy (1960–1972) ||
| 2 | | Vernon Jamadar (1929–2002) MP for Oropouche | July 1967 | 1971 | 2nd Independent Parliament (1967–1971) | Democratic Labour Party | — | | Eric Williams (1956–1981) as Chief Minister (1956–1959), as Premier (1959–1962), as Prime Minister (1962–1981) | Elizabeth II (1952–1976) | Solomon Hochoy (1960–1972) |
| 3 | | John R.F. Richardson (1926–2001) MP for Point Fortin | 21 July 1972 | 19 June 1976 | 3rd Independent Parliament (1972–1976) | Independent | 1971 | | Eric Williams (1956–1981) as Chief Minister (1956–1959), as Premier (1959–1962), as Prime Minister (1962–1981) | Elizabeth II (1952–1976) | Ellis Clarke (1972–1976) |
| Ellis Clarke (1972–1976) ||
| 4 | | Basdeo Panday (1933–2024) MP for Couva North | 1976 | 1977 | 1st Republican Parliament (1976–1977) | United Labour Front | 1976 | | Eric Williams (1956–1981) as Chief Minister (1956–1959), as Premier (1959–1962), as Prime Minister (1962–1981) | Ellis Clarke (1976–1987) | Ellis Clarke (1976–1987) |
| 5 | | Raffique Shah (born 1946) MP for Siparia | 9 August 1977 | 31 March 1978 | 1st Republican Parliament (1977–1978) | United Labour Front | — | | Eric Williams (1956–1981) as Chief Minister (1956–1959), as Premier (1959–1962), as Prime Minister (1962–1981) | Ellis Clarke (1976–1987) | Ellis Clarke (1976–1987) |
| Ellis Clarke (1976–1987) ||
| (4) | | Basdeo Panday (1933–2024) MP for Couva North | 1978 | 1986 | 1st Republican Parliament (1978–1981) | United Labour Front | — | | Eric Williams (1956–1981) as Chief Minister (1956–1959), as Premier (1959–1962), as Prime Minister (1962–1981) | Ellis Clarke (1976–1987) | Ellis Clarke (1976–1987) |
| (4) | | Basdeo Panday (1933–2024) MP for Couva North | 1978 | 1986 | 2nd Republican Parliament (1981–1986) | United Labour Front | 1981 | | George Chambers (1981–1986) | Ellis Clarke (1976–1987) | Ellis Clarke (1976–1987) |
| 6 | | Patrick Manning (1946–2016) MP for San Fernando East | 1986 | 1990 | 2nd Republican Parliament (1986) | People's National Movement | 1986 | | A. N. R. Robinson (1986–1991) | Ellis Clarke (1976–1987) | Ellis Clarke (1976–1987) |
| 6 | | Patrick Manning (1946–2016) MP for San Fernando East | | | 3rd Republican Parliament (1987–1990) | People's National Movement | 1986 | | A. N. R. Robinson (1986–1991) | Noor Mohamed Hassanali (1987–1997) | Noor Mohamed Hassanali (1987–1997) |
| (4) | | Basdeo Panday (1933–2024) MP for Couva North | 1990 | 6 November 1995 | 3rd Republican Parliament (1990–1991) | United National Congress | 1991 | | Patrick Manning (1991–1995) | Noor Mohamed Hassanali (1987–1997) | Noor Mohamed Hassanali (1987–1997) |
| (4) | | Basdeo Panday (1933–2024) MP for Couva North | | | 4th Republican Parliament (1992–1995) | United National Congress | 1991 | | Patrick Manning (1991–1995) | Noor Mohamed Hassanali (1987–1997) | Noor Mohamed Hassanali (1987–1997) |
| (6) | | Patrick Manning (1946–2016) MP for San Fernando East | 6 November 1995 | 24 December 2001 | 5th Republican Parliament (1995–2000) | People's National Movement | 1995 | | Basdeo Panday (1995–2001) | Noor Mohamed Hassanali (1987–1997) | Noor Mohamed Hassanali (1987–1997) |
| (6) | | Patrick Manning (1946–2016) MP for San Fernando East | 6 November 1995 | 24 December 2001 | 6th Republican Parliament (2001) | People's National Movement | 2000 | | Basdeo Panday (1995–2001) | A. N. R. Robinson (1997–2003) | A. N. R. Robinson (1997–2003) |
| A. N. R. Robinson (1997–2003) ||
| (4) | | Basdeo Panday (1933–2024) MP for Couva North | 24 December 2001 | 26 April 2006 | 7th Republican Parliament (2002) | United National Congress | 2001 | | Patrick Manning (2001–2010) | A. N. R. Robinson (1997–2003) | A. N. R. Robinson (1997–2003) |
| (4) | | Basdeo Panday (1933–2024) MP for Couva North | 24 December 2001 | 26 April 2006 | 8th Republican Parliament (2002–2006) | United National Congress | 2002 | | Patrick Manning (2001–2010) | A. N. R. Robinson (1997–2003) | A. N. R. Robinson (1997–2003) |
| (4) | | Basdeo Panday (1933–2024) MP for Couva North | 4 years, 123 days | 4 years, 123 days | 8th Republican Parliament (2002–2006) | United National Congress | 2002 | | Patrick Manning (2001–2010) | George Maxwell Richards (2003-2013) | George Maxwell Richards (2003-2013) |
| 7 | | Kamla Persad-Bissessar (born 1952) MP for Siparia | 26 April 2006 | 8 November 2007 | 9th Republican Parliament (2007–2010) | United National Congress | 2007 | | Patrick Manning (2001–2010) | George Maxwell Richards (2003-2013) | George Maxwell Richards (2003-2013) |
| George Maxwell Richards (2003-2013) ||
| (4) | | Basdeo Panday (1933–2024) MP for Couva North | 8 November 2007 | 25 February 2010 | 9th Republican Parliament (2007–2010) | United National Congress | — | | Patrick Manning (2001–2010) | George Maxwell Richards (2003-2013) | George Maxwell Richards (2003-2013) |
| George Maxwell Richards (2003-2013) ||
| (7) | | Kamla Persad-Bissessar (born 1952) MP for Siparia | 25 February 2010 | 26 May 2010 | 9th Republican Parliament (2007–2010) | United National Congress | — | | Patrick Manning (2001–2010) | George Maxwell Richards (2003-2013) | George Maxwell Richards (2003-2013) |
| George Maxwell Richards (2003-2013) ||
| 8 | | Keith Rowley (born 1949) MP for Diego Martin West | 26 May 2010 | 9 September 2015 | 10th Republican Parliament (2010–2015) | People's National Movement | 2010 | | Kamla Persad-Bissessar (2010–2015) | George Maxwell Richards (2003-2013) | George Maxwell Richards (2003-2013) |
| 8 | | Keith Rowley (born 1949) MP for Diego Martin West | 5 years, 106 days | 5 years, 106 days | 10th Republican Parliament (2010–2015) | People's National Movement | 2010 | | Kamla Persad-Bissessar (2010–2015) | Anthony Carmona (2013–2018) | Anthony Carmona (2013–2018) |
| (7) | | Kamla Persad-Bissessar (born 1952) MP for Siparia | 9 September 2015 | Incumbent | 11th Republican Parliament (2015–2020) | United National Congress | 2015 | | Keith Rowley (2015–present) | Anthony Carmona (2013–2018) | Anthony Carmona (2013–2018) |
| (7) | | Kamla Persad-Bissessar (born 1952) MP for Siparia | 9 September 2015 | Incumbent | 12th Republican Parliament (2020–present) | United National Congress | 2020 | | Keith Rowley (2015–present) | Paula-Mae Weekes (2018–2023) | Paula-Mae Weekes (2018–2023) | Paula-Mae Weekes (2018–2023) | Christine Kangaloo 2023-present | Christine Kangaloo 2023-present | Christine Kangaloo 2023-present | Christine Kangaloo 2023-present |