New Cabinet in place, PM promises “boots on the ground”

The Cabinet of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has been sworn-in.

Oaths were taken today at President’s House, during a ceremony that was delayed by an hour due to traffic issues which led to the Prime Minister’s late arrival.

The Cabinet will be as follows:

  1. Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries – Ravi Ratiram
  2. Minister of Justice/Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General – Devesh Maharaj
  3. Minister of Culture and Community Development – Michelle Benjamin
  4. Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Culture and Community Development – Dr Narendra Roopnarine
  5. Minister of Defence – Wayne Sturge
  6. Minister of Homeland Security – Roger Alexander
  7. Minister of Education – Dr Michael Dowlath
  8. Minister of Energy and Energy Industries – Dr Roodal Moonilal
  9. Minister in the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries – Ernesto Kesar
  10. Minister of Finance – Dave Tancoo
  11. Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs – Sean Sobers
  12. Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs/Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister – Nicholas Morris
  13. Minister of Health – Dr Lackram Bodoe
  14. Minister in the Ministry of Health – Dr Rishad Seecheran
  15. Minister of Housing – Dr David Lee
  16. Minister in the Ministry of Housing – Anil Roberts
  17. Minister of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development – Leroy Baptiste
  18. Minister of Legal Affairs/Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries – Saddam Hosein
  19. Minister of Public Utilities/Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister – Barry Padarath
  20. Minister in the Ministry of Public Utilities – Clyde Elder
  21. Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Public Utilities – Shivana Sam
  22. Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services – Vandana Mohit
  23. Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services – Dr Natalie Chaitan-Maharaj
  24. Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development – Kennedy Swaratsingh
  25. Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence – Dominic Smith
  26. Minister of Rural Development and Local Government – Khadijah Ameen
  27. Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs – Phillip Watts
  28. Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training – Prakash Persad
  29. Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tertiary Education and Skills Training – Hansen Narinesingh
  30. Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation – Eli Zakour
  31. Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism – Colin Neil Gosine
  32. Minister of Works and Infrastructure – Jearlean John
  33. Attorney General – John Jeremie

Speaking after the swearing-in, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar vowed to have “boots on the ground” as soon as possible.

These include instructions to the AG for work on Stand Your Ground and Home Invasion laws and regulations to grant firearms to law-abiding citizens, and efforts to work closely with the THA to ensure inclusion and development on the island.

PM has also vowed to repeal the T&T Revenue Authority Act, while Finance Minister Dave Tancoo has been mandated to determine the state of the Treasury.

Additionally, Mrs Persad-Bissessar says the Energy Minister to explore energy partnerships with Guyana and other Caribbean countries.

In fact, she says Minister Dr. Roodal Moonilal will soon visit Grenada, which she says has “more gas and oil than the Dragon field”.

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