Mr. John Reginald Fitzroy "Roy" Richardson entered Parliament in 1966 as the Member for Point Fortin. An Attorney-at-Law by profession, Mr. Richardson served as Deputy Speaker of the 2nd Independence Parliament (1966-1971). Having been reelected in 1971, Mr. Richardson served as a Parliamentary Secretary. Shortly after the General Election of 1971, Mr. Richardson took the decision to take up the office of Leader of the Opposition, which was vacant due to the People's National Movement winning all 36 seats.
As Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Richardson had the responsibility of appointing four Opposition Senators. History will record that one of those Opposition Senators, Mr. Basdeo Panday, would go on to become a Leader of the Opposition himself, and subsequently Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
Mr. Richardson passed away (in an untimely manner) in early June of 2001.
Tribute was paid to Mr. Richardson in the Senate on 5 June 2001
and in the House of Representatives on 8 June 2001.