Above: Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar
By the Caribbean Journal staff
Trinidad and Tobago has a new Cabinet, following the latest reshuffle by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Persad-Bissessar revoked the appointments of six Ministers, including National Security Minister Gary Griffith, National Security Minister Embau Moheni, Sport Minister Rupert Griffith, Justice Minister Emmanuel George and Attorney General Anand Ramlogan.
Minister in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure Stacy Roopnarine was transferred to the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development.
The reshuffle came after a issues arose during a probe by the Police Complaints Authority.
The Prime Ministers announced a new slate of appointments: Minister of Legal Affairs Prakash Ramadhar added the title of Minister of Justice; Christine Hosein was appointed Minister of the People and Social Development; former football star Brent Sancho was appointed Minister of Sport; Kwasi Mutema was appointed Minister in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure; retired Brigadier General Carlton Alfred Alfonso was appointed Minister of National Security and Garvin Nicholas was appointed as the country’s new Attorney General.
In a national address, Persad-Bissessar defended the reshuffle, a move which has become something of a regular occurrence in her administration.
“I have been criticized for removing too many office holders over the past four years as I was seeking to ensure the public interest was secured,” she said. “While it may have not served narrow political interests, I took the decisions necessary to serve the broader national interest, above and beyond everything else. I did so while ensuring all matters were fairly and reasonably considered and all parties were given an opportunity to be heard and evaluated.”
Trinidad and Tobago will likely hold general elections by the end of the summer of this year.