Prime Minister the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP, today congratulated newly appointed Permanent Secretaries during a special luncheon held at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, to celebrate their appointments and recognise their contribution and commitment to the Public Service.
The luncheon brought together the 24 senior public officers the Public Service Commission recently appointed to key leadership positions across the Public Service. The appointments include 23 Permanent Secretaries and the Chief Administrator of the Tobago House of Assembly.
The Prime Minister commended the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries, noting that their appointments recognise their ability, experience and service to the country.
“The appointment to the position of Permanent Secretary is a significant responsibility. It is a position that calls for leadership, sound judgement, professionalism and an unwavering commitment to the people of Trinidad and Tobago,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister reminded the Permanent Secretaries of their important responsibility to lead their respective Ministries, translate Government policy into effective programmes and deliver tangible results for the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
She urged them to continue serving with professionalism, integrity, efficiency and accountability, while working closely with Ministers and across Government to ensure timely and effective delivery to citizens.
The Prime Minister further emphasised the importance of collaboration across Ministries and the wider Public Service, noting that effective governance requires public officers to work together in pursuit of the national interest and the Government’s vision for Trinidad and Tobago.
The newly appointed Permanent Secretaries are:
- Mr. Randall Karim – Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs
- Mr. Ryan Ramcharan – Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family
Services - Ms. Indira Rampaul-Cheddie – Office of the Attorney General
- Mr. Peter Mitchell – Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government
- Mrs. Simone Williams – Ministry of Education
- Mr. Videsh Maharaj – Ministry of Homeland Security
- Mr. Cory Belfon – Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence
- Mr. Narine Charran – Ministry of Defence
- Mr. Dexter Jaggernauth – Ministry of Finance
- Ms. Kevar Williams – Office of the Prime Minister
- Ms. Karinsa Tulsie – Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries
- Ms. Michelle Anne Thomas – Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
- Ms. Shanmatee Singh Ng Sang – Ministry of Housing
- Mr. Earland Kent – Office of the Prime Minister
- Mrs. Neela Ram-Atwaroo – Ministry of Public Utilities
- Ms. Beverly Reid-Samuel – Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs
- Mrs. Wendy Guy-Hernandez – Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family
Services - Mrs. Nela Dwarika-Ali – Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs
- Ms. Abigail Bynoe – Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism
- Mr. Sanjay Singh – Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development
- Ms. Gwyneth-Ann Morris-Alexander – Ministry of Culture and Community
Development - Ms. Vashti Maharaj – Ministry of Finance
- Mrs. Aarti Bedassie-Maharaj – Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and
Developmen
Chief Administrator, Tobago House of Assembly
- Ms. Denese Toby-Quashie
In attendance were members of Cabinet; Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister and Head of the Public Service, Ms. Natasha Barrow; Deputy Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly, Dr. Faith Brednor; other Permanent Secretaries; and senior officials of the Public Service.
The Office of the Prime Minister extends congratulations to all 24 officers and wishes them success as they assume their respective leadership responsibilities in service to the people and country of Trinidad and Tobago.