In a shock appointment, the opposition United National Congress appointed celebrated track and field athlete, Ato Boldon as a senator in the Trinidad and Tobago Upper House. Boldon fills the vacancy left by the resignation of Roy Augustus.

Boldon, a 4 time Olympic medalist and World Championship 200m Gold medalist was always thought to be interested in politics at a National level, but in a country where race-based voting is the norm, it was believed he would eventually be offered national representation under the ruling party, the People's National Movement(PNM).

Last evening on the FM 106 talk show program hosted by Sandro Mohammed, UNC Deputy Political Leader, Jack Warner -coincidentally, Roy Augustus' employer- teased that the senatorial appointment would shock Trinbagonians, but the betting money was on political analyst Kirk Meighoo. The appointment of Ato Boldon now brings into question whether Augustus resigned in protest of the removal of another opposition Senator, Robin Montano; or whether he was simply asked so to do by his employer and party leaders to facilitate the world renowned sprinter.