Who Is Kamla Persad-Bissessar? 'Bihar ki Beti' And 1st Woman PM Of Trinidad & Tobago

Port Of Spain: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night (local time arrived in Trinidad and Tobago for a two-day visit to the Caribbean nation. During his address to the Indian community, PM Modi called Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar a "Bihar ki beti (daughter of Bihar)", highlighting her ancestral ties to the state.

Notably, in 2012, Bissessar had earlier visited her ancestral village in Bhelupur under Itarhi block in Bihar's Buxar district. Addressing a gathering of the members of the Indian diaspora, mostly from Bihar, PM Modi said, "Many people present here have ancestors who came from Bihar itself. Bihar's heritage is a matter of pride not only for India but for the entire world." He also highlighted Bihar's contribution to global thought and progress. "Be it democracy, politics, diplomacy, or higher education, centuries ago, Bihar showed the world new directions in many such fields," he said.

The Prime Minister also thanked the Indian diaspora present at the event for the love and affection showered upon him in the Caribbean nation. PM Modi thanked Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for honouring him with Trinidad and Tobago's highest national award later on Friday.

Who Is Kamla Persad-Bissessar?

Kamla Persad-Bissessar, also known as KPB., was born in rural Siparia in southern Trinidad to Lilraj and Rita Persad. She has twice served as the sixth prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, from 2010 to 2015 and again since May 2025.

She is also the first PM of the Caribbean nation. She has ancestral roots in Bihar. The Trinidad and Tobago PM has also been the Political Leader of the United National Congress since 2010.

Persad-Bissessar was the Leader of the Opposition for three times from 2006 to 2007, January to May 2010, and again from 2015 to 2025. She is also the first woman to chair the Commonwealth of Nations.

In 2011, Persad-Bissessar was named the thirteenth most influential female leader around the world by Time magazine.

Published on: Friday, July 04, 2025, 01:54 PM IST