Linda Baboolal


Linda Baboolal was a Trinidadian politician and physician. She served as her country's Minister of Social Services and Minister of Health, the first female Chairperson of the People's National Movement party, and as President of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago.

Biography

Early life and education

Linda Mohan was born in Siparia, Trinidad to parents Solomon and Sylvia Mohan. She was the eldest child of six — five girls and one boy.

Career

Her childhood dream was to become a medical doctor - which she accomplished along with her husband, Michael Baboolal, in Dublin, Ireland. She interned at the Port of Spain General Hospital.
After their children were grown, she was approached by a new political party, National Alliance for Reconstruction, to be one of their candidates for election to government. She considered this at the time, but due to time constraints she declined.
She was actively involved in many charitable organizations - especially with the drug addiction rehabilitation center at Mount St. Benedict - which was the first of it kind in the country.
In 1991, she was again approached by the People's National Movement to be a candidate for election and this time she accepted. She was the representative for the San Juan/Barataria region and she won this election easily. She was then made Minister of Social Services and then Minister of Health. At the following election - she lost her seat to the opposition but was then made the first female Chairperson of the PNM.
She did not run for the next election but was still active in the party. She was nominated as President of the Senate - during which she acted at President of Trinidad and Tobago on numerous occasions.

Marriage and children

She was married to Michael Baboolal. The couple had five children—three daughters and two sons. One of her sons, Henry Baboolal, has a degree in Automotive Engineering from Bolton University and is an instructor/lecturer at the University of Northwestern Ohio in Lima, Ohio.
Her daughter Sherylann Ramsaran has graduated with her law degree from the University of London, External Programme and is working on getting her master's degree.