President Ali names 25-member Cabinet, blends continuity with key portfolio shifts
President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Saturday unveiled a 25-member Cabinet and several supporting appointments, promising a government that is “results-driven, people-centred and efficient.”
The lineup features broad continuity in core portfolios, alongside notable shifts in Education, Home Affairs, and Local Government, and introduces new faces to steer Public Service, Amerindian Affairs, and Labour.
Mohabir Anil Nandlall returns as Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs; Gail Teixeira continues as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance; Dr. Ashni Singh remains Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance; Hugh Todd continues as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Zulfikar Mustapha stays on as Minister of Agriculture; Dr. Frank Anthony continues as Minister of Health; Bishop Juan Anthony Edghill remains Minister of Public Works; Charles Ramson continues as Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport; Vickram Bharrat remains Minister of Natural Resources; Collin Croal continues as Minister of Housing; and Dr. Vindhya Persaud remains Minister of Human Services and Social Security.
Several portfolios were reshuffled. Priya Manickchand moves from Education to become Minister of Local Government and Regional Development. At the same time, Oneidge Walrond takes over as Minister of Home Affairs, having previously served in Tourism, Industry, and Commerce.
Sonia Parag transitions to the Ministry of Education after previously serving at the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.
Deodat Indar is assigned Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, moving from the Ministry of Public Works. Susan Rodrigues becomes Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, having previously served as a minister within the Ministry of Housing.
Pauline Sukhai is named Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development after earlier service as Minister of Amerindian Affairs.
Kwame McCoy continues as Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister. Vikash Ramkissoon is appointed Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture after serving as Parliamentary Secretary.
Madanlall Ramraj becomes Minister within the Ministry of Public Works following his tenure as Director General at the Ministry of Agriculture. Steven Jacobs is named Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and Vanessa Benn becomes a Minister within the Ministry of Housing after previously serving as acting chair of the Industry/Plaisance NDC.
Newcomers assume key roles focused on delivery and inclusion. Zulfikar Ally is appointed Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation, signalling a sharpened focus on execution across the public sector. Sarah Browne becomes Minister of Amerindian Affairs. Keoma Griffith is named Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, succeeding Joseph Hamilton, who will now serve in an advisory capacity.
In addition to the Cabinet, President Ali invited several individuals to join the parliamentary benches, including James Anthony Bond, Jamal Hussain, Peter Ramsaroop, Anand Persaud, Seepaul Narine, Bhagmattie Veerasammy, Suresh Singh, Mahadeo Budram, Lennox Shuman, Jennifer Westford, Alistair Charlie, Sonia Latchman and Sanjeev Dagain.
Meanwhile, Thandi McAllister and Mishka Whyte-Griffith will serve as Parliamentary Secretaries.
