SHAKEER Baig has been appointed to manage the operations of the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS).
Baig, who was previously acting Assistant Director of the Meteorological Services Division, became acting Director on August 9.
The Ministry of Public Utilities in a press release on Wednesday stated that Baig joined the TTMS in 1989 as a Meteorological Assistant and is a qualified meteorologist with training from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the National Weather Service in the United States of America.
In addition, he also served as acting Director of the Meteorological Services Division on several occasions in the past.
Baig replaces former director Ezekiel Sampson who in a radio interview in July had disagreed with a decision by the NHC to upgrade Tropical Storm Elsa to a Hurricane.
Sampson had also said in July that Elsa did not have any moisture “so therefore, I am not seeing the system survive any further.”
Following, his statements, the Ministry of Public Utilities under which the TTMS falls launched an investigation. The matter was referred to the Public Service Commission.