Caption: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her Cabinet in May 2025
- Prime Minister steps back: PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar has officially relinquished oversight of several key housing and community programmes, redistributing them among her ministers.
- Major shifts in Land and Legal Affairs: Minister Saddam Hosein has seen a massive expansion of his portfolio, absorbing numerous state enterprises and housing initiatives.
- Security swap: The Ministers of Defence and Homeland Security have swapped key duties regarding disaster management and immigration.
- Effective date: The sweeping changes, authorised by President Christine Carla Kangaloo, came into effect on 30 September 2026.
By Prior Beharry
A major realignment of government responsibilities has taken place within the Cabinet following a notice published in the Trinidad and Tobago Gazette on Friday, 2 October 2026.
The changes, advised by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and authorised by President Christine Carla Kangaloo, officially took effect on 30 September 2026.
The most notable shift involves Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar streamlining her own portfolio. The Prime Minister has officially relinquished oversight of several key housing and community programmes, including the Home Improvement Policy, the Housing and Village Improvement Programme (HVIP), the Government Aided Self Help Housing Programme (GASHHP), the Oropune Project, Golden Grove Buccoo Limited, and the National Commission for Self-Help Limited.
These responsibilities have been redistributed among her ministers to optimise government operations.
Major portfolio expansions
Minister of Land and Legal Affairs, Saddam Hosein, has seen a significant expansion of his portfolio. He will now oversee a vast array of state enterprises and housing initiatives, absorbing GASHHP and HVIP from the Prime Minister.
Hosein has also been handed responsibility for Caroni (1975) Limited, Sugar Manufacturing Company Limited, and Taurus Services Limited (previously under Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo), as well as TRINTOC Services Limited (previously under Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal).
Additionally, Hosein takes charge of Hydrographic Surveys, Palo Seco Agricultural Enterprises Limited (PSAEL), and Rincon Development Limited, which were removed from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Minister of Housing, Dr David Lee, has taken over the Home Improvement Policy and the Oropune Project from the Prime Minister, while relinquishing the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Committee to Minister Hosein.
Meanwhile, Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services, Vandana Mohit, has been assigned responsibility for the National Commission for Self-Help Limited.
Security and defence swap
The reshuffle also features a swap of duties between the nation’s security ministries. Minister of Defence, Wayne Sturge, is now responsible for National Emergency/Disaster Management, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), the National Emblems Committee, and the National Mentorship Programme.
Conversely, Minister of Homeland Security, Roger Alexander, has handed those disaster management duties over to Sturge, and in return, takes over the Management of Illegal Immigrants and Deportees from the Ministry of Defence.
Other notable reassignments include:
- Finance: Minister Davendranath Tancoo has assumed responsibility for the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), which was transferred from Agriculture Minister Ravi Ratiram.
- Public Utilities: Minister Barry Padarath is now responsible for the On the Job Training (OJT) programme, which was removed from the portfolio of Tertiary Education Minister Prakash Persad.
- Local Government: Minister of Rural Development and Local Government, Khadijah Ameen, takes over matters relating to Insect Vector control, a responsibility formerly held by Health Minister Dr Lackram Bodoe.
