section_path: History/Return to opposition (2001–2010)/Rise of Kamla Persad-Bissessar
section_name: Rise of Kamla Persad-Bissessar
paragraph_text: Rise of Kamla Persad-Bissessar
  
  On 24 January 2010, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, member of parliament for Siparia, was elected the new leader of the UNC. In the internal election, she won 13,932 votes compared to 1,359 for Basdeo Panday and 1,072 for Ramesh Maharaj and became the first female leader of a major political party in Trinidad and Tobago.