[UPDATED] Young gets Energy Ministry in Cabinet reshuffle after Khan's death

New Minister of Energy Stuart Young
New Minister of Energy Stuart Young

Stuart Young is the new Minister of Energy.

He will replace Franklin Khan, who died suddenly on Saturday morning.

A release from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) said Dr Rowley had advised the President that, with immediate effect, Young would be moved from the National Security Ministry.

He will retain his portfolio as a minister in the OPM.

“I thank the Prime Minister, Dr the Honourable Keith Rowley, for his confidence in me in his reassignment of me to the portfolio of Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, in addition to my duties as Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister,” Young said in a Facebook post.

“It is a privilege and an honour to serve my country and I will always give of my best in any role I am tasked with. I would like to wish my colleague, Minister Fitzgerald Hinds all of the very best as he assumes the portfolio of Minister National Security.”

Young, having experience in civil, commercial, banking and insurance law, as well as experience in industrial relations, first served as a temporary opposition senator in 2015. He was elected as MP for Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West in the 11th Parliament and was appointed minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs.

He also shadowed the late energy minister through several conferences. In 2019 he was on the negotiation team led by Khan which finalised negotiations between Government and Shell TT on gas-related issues and even embarked on missions to Venezuela to complete negotiations on the Dragon Gas Deal, which saw an agreement to independently develop the Loran-Manatee field which straddles the border between TT and Venezuela.

Up to early April, Young attended the Ninth Extra Extraordinary Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC ministerial meeting, while Khan was unable to make it owing to a “minor medical procedure.”

Young would have to hit the ground running with several issues in train, including the continued maintenance of the Atlantic LNG train 1 line as well as seeking results in the new requests for proposals (RFP) for the sale of Petrotrin refinery. The RFP’s are said to be in the hands of the Minister of Finance after Government three times rejected offers from Oilfield Trade Workers Union (OWTU)-led Patriotic Energies.

In his last interview with Newsday, Khan said government still has plans to float the price of gasoline to reflect world changes.

Fitzgerald Hinds, previously Minister of Youth Development and National Service, will now become Minister of National Security. Hinds is also the chairman of the Joint Select Committee on National Security.

Foster Cummings, MP for La Horquetta/Talparo, will now take over the Ministry of Youth Development from Hinds.

Cummings told Newsday while he was excited and honoured to be selected for the Ministry, he would like to meet with Hinds before commenting on further plans for the ministry.

“I am, of course, going to give it my all to make sure the people of TT get the opportunities for their development that they so deserve. The Ministry of Youth has been around for a very long time. It was refined under this current term as Youth Development and National Service, but I would want to speak to Minister Hinds first before I comment further.”

Hinds was unavailable for comment.

This story was originally published with the title "Stuart Young is new Energy Minister" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

Stuart Young is the new Minister of Energy.

He will replace Franklin Khan, who died suddenly on Saturday.

Franklin Khan

A release from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) said Dr Rowley had advised the President that, with immediate effect, Young would be moved from the National Security Ministry.

He will retain his portfolio as a minister in the OPM.

Fitzgerald Hinds will now become Minister of National Security. Hinds is also the chairman of the Joint Select Committee on National Security.

Foster Cummings, MP for La Horquetta/Talparo, will now take over the Ministry of Youth Development portfolio from Hinds.

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"[UPDATED] Young gets Energy Ministry in Cabinet reshuffle after Khan’s death"

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