Trinidad PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar unveils 35-member UNC government

Trinidad and Tobago's new UNC-led administration will move forward with a 35-member government, consisting of Cabinet ministers, junior ministers assisting substantive Cabinet members, and parliamentary secretaries.

Thirty-two members were sworn in on Saturday at President’s House in St. Ann’s, following the earlier swearing-in of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Attorney General John Jeremie on Thursday. Persad-Bissessar noted that her nominee for the newly created Ministry of Trade, Investment, and Tourism is currently abroad and will be announced upon their return.

Saturday’s ceremony began an hour late, reportedly due to traffic delays caused by two vehicular accidents encountered by Persad-Bissessar en route to Port of Spain.

There are now 25 government ministries, including the Office of the Prime Minister. Some ministries have been renamed or split, echoing structural changes implemented during the former People’s Partnership administration. Notably, the Ministry of National Security has been divided into the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Homeland Security. Similarly, the Ministry of Works and Transport has been split into two separate entities: the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, and the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.

Persad-Bissessar also reinstated the Ministry of Tertiary Education and Skills Training as a standalone entity. The Ministry of Public Administration has been rebranded as the Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, and the Ministry of the People has returned under the expanded title: Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services.

While there is no standalone Ministry of Tourism, tourism now falls under the responsibilities of the Ministry of Trade, Investment, and Tourism.

The 35-member team includes 25 substantive government ministers, four junior ministers within ministries, and six parliamentary secretaries. Among the new faces are Hanson Narinesingh, Prakash Persad, and Kennedy Swaratsingh.

Commenting on the Cabinet’s size, Persad-Bissessar said, “I tried to get the best talent that we could, people who are qualified in various fields. For the moment I am confident that we can govern with the Cabinet of this size, and if it becomes necessary, we can increase. There is always room for change.”

She also issued a firm warning to her appointees about performance expectations.

“Last rounds [2010–2015], I didn’t mess around; I didn’t play shy and small,” she said. “When they did not work and did not shape up, they were shipped out. They accused me of firing so many ministers, so if they don’t work, they know what … swift retribution.”

Some members chuckled, to which Persad-Bissessar responded, “They know I will keep my word.”

Here are the new Cabinet ministers:

1) Ravi Ratiram, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries

2) Devesh Maharaj, Minister of Justice & Minister in the Ministry of Attorney General

3) Michelle Benjamin, Minister of Culture and Community Development

4) Dr. Narindra Roopnarine, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Culture and Community Development

5) Wayne Sturge, Minister of Defence

6) Dr. Michael Dowlath, Minister of Education

7) Dr. Roodal Moonilal, Minister of Energy and Energy Industries

8) Ernesto Kesar, Minister in the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries

9) Davendranath Tancoo, Minister of Finance

10) Sean Sobers, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs

11) Nicholas Morris, Parliamentary Secretary in Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary in Office of the Prime Minister

12) Dr. Lackram Bodoe, Minister of Health

13) Dr. Rishard Seecheran, Minister in the Ministry of Health

14) Roger Alexander, Minister of Homeland Security

15) David Lee, Minister of Housing

16) Anil Roberts, Minister in the Ministry of Housing

17) Leroy Baptiste, Minister of Labour Small and Micro Enterprise Development

18) Saddam Hosein, Minister of Legal Affairs and Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture

19) Barry Padarath, Minister of Public Utilities and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister

20) Vandana Mohit, Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services

21) Natalie Chaitan-Maharaj, Parliamentary Secretary, Minister of the People

22) Kennedy Swaratsingh, Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development

23) Clyde Elder, Minister in the Ministry of Public Utilities

24) Dominic Smith, Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence

25) Shivanna Sam, Parliamentary Secretary, Minister of Public Utilities

26) Khadijah Ameen, Minister of Rural Development and Local Government

27) Phillip Watts, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs

28) Prakash Persad, Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training

29) Hansen Narinesingh, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Tertiary Education

30) Colin Neil Gosine, Parliamentary Secretary in Trade, Investment and Tourism

31) Eli Zakour, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation

32) Jearlean John, Minister of Works and Infrastructure