PTI
 
Port-of-Spain, Aug 26: The first Indian origin President of Trinidad and Tobago, Justice Noor Hassanali has passed away.

He died on Thursday in his sleep at his Westmoorings home, 10 km from Port-of-Spain. He was 88.

Hassanali, the first Indo-Trinidadian to become President of Trinidad and Tobago served two terms as the Head of State from 1987 to 1997. Prior to his election as the President, he served as a High Court judge and lectured at the Hugh Wooding School of Law, University of the West Indies.

He was also the first Muslim to become Head of State in the Caribbean, Latin and South America.

Hassanli was ailing for the past two years and was buried under strict Muslim rites on Friday afternoon. The former President is survived by wife, a son and a daughter.

Before his demise, he had requested a private funeral, and an inter-religious service afterwards," to thank God for life."

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Leader of the Opposition United National Congress, Winston Dookeran also paid tributes to his high integrity and human values.