Caption: Members of the Cabinet of Kamla Persad-Bissessar

PRESIDENT Christine Carla Kangaloo has approved reassignments of ministerial responsibilities, following the advice of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, with major changes affecting Homeland Security and Public Utilities.

The new arrangements took effect on October 3, 2025, and were formalised in Gazette No. 146 of 2025, published on Saturday, October 4.

Acting under section 79(1) of the Constitution, which empowers the President to assign ministerial duties on the Prime Minister’s advice, the reshuffle redistributes functions across multiple ministries.

Key changes

• Homeland Security: Minister Roger Alexander now has responsibility for the Prison System.
• Public Utilities: Minister Barry Padarath assumes oversight of power generation, including Trinidad Generation Unlimited (TGU) and POWERGEN.
• Attorney General: John Jeremie, S.C., remains AG and is now tasked with matters relating to the Criminal Justice Unit. His purview no longer includes the Environmental Commission, Equal Opportunity Commission and Tribunal, Tax Appeal Board, Council of Legal Education, or the Hugh Wooding Law School.
• Justice: Minister Devesh Maharaj takes charge of the Environmental Commission, Equal Opportunity Commission and Tribunal, Tax Appeal Board, Council of Legal Education, Hugh Wooding Law School, Electronic Monitoring, the Equal Opportunity bodies, and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. He relinquishes the Prison System and the Criminal Justice Unit.
• Land and Legal Affairs: A reconstituted ministry led by Saddam Hosein replaces the former Ministry of Legal Affairs. Hosein now oversees Lands and Surveys, Land Management, Regularisation of Tenure and Housing for Squatters, Surveys and Mapping, Valuation, the Land Settlement Agency, the Land Survey Board of Trinidad and Tobago, and the Estate Management and Business Development Company. Constitutional Reform is transferred from his remit to the Office of the Prime Minister.
• Agriculture and Fisheries: Ravi Ratiram continues as minister following the ministry’s reclassification. Land-related matters move to Minister Hosein; Ratiram’s focus is now Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, Forestry, and Agricultural Development.
• Health and Finance: Health Minister Dr Lackram Bodoe relinquishes responsibility for the National Health Insurance System, which now falls under Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo. Tancoo also assumes oversight of the Export-Import Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (Eximbank).
• Office of the Prime Minister: Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar takes direct responsibility for Heritage Buildings, Constitutional Reform, the National Trust, the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS), and several housing initiatives, including the Home Improvement Grants Policy, the Housing and Village Improvement Programme (HVIP), and the Government Aided Self-Help Housing Programme (GASHHP).
• Social sector: Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services Vandana Mohit now oversees the Geriatric Adolescent Partnership Programme. Planning, Economic Affairs and Development Minister Senator Dr Kennedy Swaratsingh takes charge of Social Planning, Development and Monitoring.
• Housing and Culture: Housing Minister Dr David Lee loses oversight of squatter regularisation and home improvement grants. Culture and Community Development Minister Michelle Benjamin is no longer responsible for the National Commission for Self Help Limited.
• Trade and Energy: Trade, Investment and Tourism Minister Satyakama Maharaj is relieved of responsibility for NEDCO and the Eximbank. Energy and Energy Industries Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal no longer oversees power generation, TGU or POWERGEN, which now fall under Minister Padarath at Public Utilities.

The Gazette records that the reassignment spans multiple portfolios, reflecting a broader restructuring of responsibilities across government. The changes are effective immediately as of  October 3, 2025.