Caption: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar after the swearing-in of her cabinet on 2 May 2025
In Brief
- Driving the change: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says the latest Cabinet reshuffle aims to increase efficiency and cut bureaucracy, noting that ‘governance evolves.’
- Confidence in Hosein: The PM expressed full confidence in Minister Saddam Hosein, who has received a massive expansion to his Land and Legal Affairs portfolio.
- Strategic realignments: Shifts in agriculture, finance, and security were explained as logical realignments, such as placing the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) under the Ministry of Finance.
- Prime Minister steps back: The PM has officially relinquished oversight of several key housing and community programmes to her ministers.
By Prior Beharry
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says the recent realignment of her Cabinet is necessary “to increase efficiency, cut costs and bureaucracy.”
Responding on Saturday to AZP News on the sweeping changes gazetted on Friday, the Prime Minister noted that as her administration progresses, she will continue to adjust portfolios to best serve the country.
She said, “As we go along I will keep rearranging to increase efficiency and cut costs. Governance evolves and changes need to be made to keep up.”
Addressing the massive expansion of Minister of Land and Legal Affairs Saddam Hosein’s portfolio, Persad-Bissessar said she is “very confident.” in his ability to manage the increased workload.
Hosein will now oversee a vast array of state enterprises and housing initiatives. He absorbs the Government Aided Self Help Housing Programme (GASHHP) and the Housing and Village Improvement Programme (HVIP) directly from the Prime Minister. Hosein has also been handed responsibility for Caroni (1975) Limited, Sugar Manufacturing Company Limited, and Taurus Services Limited, as well as TRINTOC Services Limited.
Persad-Bissessar also clarified the rationale behind removing several state entities from Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Ravi Ratiram, saying the shifts were purely functional.
The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) was transferred to Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo because it is a “Financial institution which should be under the purview of MOF.”
Furthermore, Palo Seco Agricultural Enterprises Limited (PSAEL) was moved to Minister Hosein because it “manages large areas of lands,” she said.
Another change involved the nation’s security ministries. Minister of Homeland Security, Roger Alexander, has taken over the Management of Illegal Immigrants and Deportees from the Ministry of Defence. Persad-Bissessar explained that this transfer was executed to “easier facilitate the next phase following the end of the migrant registration process earlier this year.”
She added, “Immigration is under the purview of Homeland security.”
In a strategic swap, Minister of Defence Wayne Sturge takes over Alexander’s former duties regarding National Emergency/Disaster Management, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), the National Emblems Committee, and the National Mentorship Program.
Streamlining the Prime Minister’s Office
The reshuffle, authorised by President Christine Carla Kangaloo with effect from 30 September 2026, also sees the Prime Minister significantly streamlining her own portfolio.
In addition to transferring GASHHP and HVIP to Minister Hosein, Persad-Bissessar has officially relinquished oversight of the Home Improvement Policy and the Oropune Project to Minister of Housing Dr David Lee. Dr Lee, in turn, relinquishes the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Committee to Minister Hosein.
The Prime Minister also handed over the National Commission for Self-Help Limited to Vandana Mohit, Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services.
Further shifts in utilities and health
Other notable reassignments in the gazetted notice include:
- 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.
