Prime Minister Announces MAJOR Shakeup of Ministerial Responsibilities

Prime Minister the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, S.C., M.P., has announced a major shakeup of Ministerial responsibilities within her Government, effective from Friday (3rd October, 2025). The new assignments and re-assignments were published in the Trinidad and Tobago Gazette (Extraordinary), dated Saturday 4th October, 2025.

Among the key changes, Minister of Homeland Security, Roger Alexander, has been officially assigned responsibility for matters relating to the Prison System, marking a notable shift in the Government’s focus on law enforcement and national security operations.

Her Excellency the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Christine Kangaloo, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, and in accordance with section 79(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, approved the following changes in Ministerial responsibilities, with effect from 3rd October, 2025:

Re-Assigned Responsibilities

(a) The HONOURABLE KAMLA PERSAD-BISSESSAR, S.C., M.P., Prime Minister, responsibility for matters relating to Heritage Buildings, Constitutional Reform, National Trust, National Commission for Self Help Limited, National Library Services and the National Library and Information System Authority, Home Improvement Grants Policy, Housing and Village Improvement Programme (HVIP), Government Aided Self-Help Housing Programme (GASHHP);

(b) SENATOR THE HONOURABLE JOHN JEREMIE, S.C., Attorney General, responsible for matters relating to the Criminal Justice Unit;

(c) The HONOURABLE DAVENDRANATH TANCOO, M.P., Minister of Finance and Minister in the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, responsibility for matters relating to National Health Insurance System and Export-Import Bank of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (Eximbank);

(d) The HONOURABLE ROGER ALEXANDER, M.P, Minister of Homeland Security, responsibility for matters relating to the Prison System;

(e) The HONOURABLE DEVESH MAHARAJ, M.P., Minister of Justice and Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General, responsibility for Electronic Monitoring, Environmental Commission, Equal Opportunity Commission, Equal Opportunity Tribunal, the Tax Appeal Board, Criminal Injury Compensation Board, Council of Legal Education, Hugh Wooding Law School;

(f) SENATOR LEROY BAPTISTE, Minister of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development, responsibility for National Entrepreneurship Development Company (NEDCO);

(g) The HONOURABLE SADDAM HOSEIN, M.P., Minister of Legal Affairs, now reclassified as the Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs and Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, now reclassified as the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, responsibility for matters relating to Lands and Surveys, Land Management, Regularisation of Tenure/ Housing for Squatters, Surveys and Mapping, Valuation, Land Settlement Agency, Land Survey Board of Trinidad and Tobago and Estate Management and Business Development Company;

(h) SENATOR DR. THE HONOURABLE KENNEDY SWARATSINGH, a Senator, Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development and Minister in the Ministry of Finance, responsibility for matters relating to Social Planning, Development and Monitoring;

(i) The HONOURABLE VANDANA MOHIT, M.P., Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services, responsibility for matters relating to Geriatric Adolescent Partnership Programme; and

(j) The HONOURABLE BARRY PADARATH, M.P., Minister of Public Utilities and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, responsibility for matters relating to Power Generation, Trinidad Generation Unlimited and POWERGEN.

Removed Responsibilities

(a) Senator the Honourable JOHN JEREMIE, S.C., a Senator, Attorney General, be no longer responsible for matters relating to the Environmental Commission, Equal Opportunity Commission, Equal Opportunity Tribunal and Tax Appeal Board, Council of Legal Education, Hugh Wooding Law School;

(b) Senator the Honourable RAVI RATIRAM, a Senator, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, now reclassified as the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, be no longer responsible for matters relating to Lands and Surveys, Land Management, Surveys and Mapping, Land Survey Board of Trinidad and Tobago, Land Settlement Agency and Estate Management and Business Development Company Limited;

(c) The Honourable MICHELLE BENJAMIN, M.P., Minister of Culture and Community Development, be no longer responsible for National Commission for Self Help Limited;

(d) Dr. the Honourable ROODAL MOONILAL, M.P., Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, be no longer responsible for Power Generation, Trinidad Generation Unlimited and POWERGEN;

(e) The Honourable DAVENDRANATH TANCOO, Minister of Finance and Minister in the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, be no longer responsible for Valuation;

(f) The Honourable Dr. LACKRAM BODOE, M.P., Minister of Health, be no longer responsible for National Health Insurance System;

(g) The Honourable DAVID LEE, M.P., Minister of Housing, be no longer responsible for Regularisation of Tenure/Housing for Squatters, Home Improvement Grants Policy, Housing and Village Improvement Programme (HVIP), Government Aided Self-Help Housing Programme (GASHHP);

(h) The Honourable DEVESH MAHARAJ, M.P., Minister of Justice and Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General, be no longer responsible for Prison System and Criminal Justice Unit;

(i) The Honourable SADDAM HOSEIN, M.P., Minister of Legal Affairs, now reclassified as the Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs and Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, now reclassified as the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, be no longer responsible for Constitutional Reform;

(j) The Honourable VANDANA MOHIT, M.P., Minister of The People, Social Development and Family Services, be no longer responsible for Social Planning, Development and Monitoring;

(k) Senator the Honourable SATYAKAMA MAHARAJ, Minister of Trade, Investment and Tourism, be no Longer responsible for NEDCO and Export-Import Bank of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (Eximbank);

(l) Senator the Honourable DOMINIC SMITH, Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, be no longer responsible for Heritage Buildings, National Trust, National Library Services and the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS);

(m) The Honourable PHILLIP WATTS, M.P., Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, be no longer responsible for matters relating to Geriatric Adolescent Partnership Programme; and

(n) The Honourable ROGER AlEXANDER, M.P., Minister of Homeland Security, be no longer responsible for matters relating to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

View the 27-page PDF document for more information. 

More on this as it becomes available. 

[Source: Trinidad and Tobago Gazette] 

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