[UPDATED] Major changes as ministries shuffled

The Prison Service falling under the Justice Ministry, while the rest of the protective services, excluding police, falling under the Defence Ministry are just two of the changes to the government’s structure laid out in the Gazette Notices released by the Office of the President on May 14.

The first schedule is titled Gazette Notice dated May 3, re Directions and Schedules. Its release on May 14 comes 13 days after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was sworn in, and 11 days after government ministers, junior ministers and parliamentary secretaries were sworn in on May 3.

The 65-page document gives details of the responsibilities which fall under each ministry, as well as the statutory boards and other bodies, and the wholly-owned, majority-owned, minority-owned and indirectly-owned enterprises the ministry is responsible for.

While the list of government ministers, junior ministers and parliamentary secretaries is dated May 3, the schedules are dated May 12.

Another schedule released was Gazette Notice dated May 7, re Directions and Schedules, which laid out the responsibilities of the Trade, Investment and Tourism Ministry.

Neither document outlines the responsibilities of the junior ministers and parliamentary secretaries.

While the ministries for the most part remain unchanged, there are several shifts and splits.

Finance

In the Finance Ministry, Minister Davendranath Tancoo, in addition to the usual responsibilities of the ministry, is responsible for the Government Information Services Ltd, the Government Human Resources Ltd, the Human Capital Development Facilitation Company Ltd, the Seafood Industry Development Company Ltd, the Sugar Manufacturing Company Ltd and the TT Forest Products Company Ltd.

Energy

Under the Energy and Energy Industries Ministry, run by Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, the Trinidad Petroleum Holdings Ltd company is not listed. Trinidad Petroleum Holdings Ltd (Trinidad Petroleum) has four subsidiaries – Heritage Petroleum Company Ltd; Paria Fuel Trading Company Ltd; Guaracara Refinery Ltd; and Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago (Petrotrin). Petrotrin is listed separately under the ministry.

Trade, Investments and Tourism

The Minister of Trade, Investments and Tourism, Kama Maharaj, is responsible for hotel development and tourism policy, as part of tourism and tourism products. The ministry is also responsible for the TT Fashion Company Ltd, the TT Film Company Ltd, and the TT Music Company Ltd. However, the Tourism Development Company Ltd, the Tourism Industrial Development Company and TT Business Development Ltd are under the Ministry of Finance.

Public Utilities

The Ministry of Public Utilities is run by Minister Barry Padarath, who is also Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister. Under the latter title, he is responsible for Central Administrative Services, Tobago. He is also responsible for Cepep Company Ltd. The responsibilities of the Public Utilities Ministry remain unchanged from the previous administration.

Justice

In the Ministry of Justice, under Minister Devesh Maharaj, the ministry is responsible for alternative dispute resolution; construction of court facilities for the judiciary; the criminal justice system – criminal justice unit, Quicker Justice Initiative programme and reformation and transformation; the prison system – parole and prisoner management, prison service reform, community service, witness protection, care and support, and rehabilitation; forensic services – DNA services; probation services; offender management – youth re-offender programme; victims of crime – charter and counselling and compensation; and legal service complaints.
The Justice Ministry is responsible for the advisory committee on the power of pardon (Mercy Committee), the Legal Aid and Advisory Authority, Police Complaints Authority, Sentencing Commission and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

Legal Affairs

The Legal Affairs Ministry, under Minister Saddam Hosein, is responsible for constitutional reform; law revision; commissioner of affidavits; justice of the peace; liquor license; marriage license; registrar general – companies registry, civil registry, land registry and rent restriction; and intellectual property – industrial property, copyright and related rights and trademarks. It is responsible for the Law Revision Commission and the Rent Assessment Board.

Defence

The Ministry of Defence, one of the new ministries announced by the new government and led by Minister Wayne Sturge, is responsible for airspace and territorial waters; the Defence Force – Regiment, Coast Guard, lifeguards, Air Guard and Defence Force Reserves; management of illegal immigrants and deportees; regional security co-ordination; Defence Force Commission Board; Defence Council; Military-led Academic Training Programme; and Civilian Conservation Corps. The latter two programmes were formerly under the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service.

Homeland Security

The Ministry of Homeland Security, under Minister Roger Alexander, is responsible for estate police, intelligence, internal security, citizenship, immigration, national emergency/disaster management, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, public order – safety and law enforcement, the police service, the fire service, security of government officials and management, work permits, cadet force, cadet force advisory committee, National Emblems committee, protective services compensation committee and work permit advisory committee.
Alexander is also responsible for the citizen security programme, the national mentorship programme and the Strategic Services Agency.

People, Social Development and Family Services

The People, Social Development and Family Services, under Minister Vandana Mohit, incorporates gender affairs, child development and special needs and inter-disciplinary child development care into the responsibilities of the former social development and family services. These were previously under the Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Gender and Child Affairs.
The ministry is also responsible for Community Residences (Children’s Homes): St Dominic's Children's Home, St Jude’s Industrial School for Girls, St Mary's Children's Home, St Michael's Industrial School for Boys, as well as the Children's Authority of TT and the TT Association for Retarded Children.

Planning, Economic Affairs and Development

The Planning, Economic Affairs and Development Ministry, under Ministry Kennedy Swaratsingh, combines the previous planning and development ministry with the urban development portfolio of the former housing and urban development ministry.

Public Administration and AI

The Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence Ministry, with Minister Dominic Smith, combines the responsibilities of the public administration ministry with those of digital transformation.

Health

Under the Health Ministry, led by Minister Dr Lackram Bodoe, in addition to the regular duties and responsibilities, takes control of HIV/Aids co-ordination, including the National Aids Co-ordinating Committee, previously under the Office of the Prime Minister.

Rural Development and Local Government

The Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government is run by Minister Khadijah Ameen. The responsibilities of this ministry, in addition to those previously under the ministry, include winding up of operations of the ministry of local government and managing the transition to the new service delivery arrangements. The ministry is also responsible for the Cepep Company Ltd and South programmes, also found under the Ministry of Public Utilities.

Culture and Community Development

Under the Ministry of Culture and Community Development, previously sport and community development, Minister Michelle Benjamin retains control of the community development aspect and also takes control of the culture and the arts aspects of the previous tourism, culture and the arts ministry. These include Carnival, creative arts, culture and the National Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. There is no mention of the National Steel Symphony Orchestra.

Sport and Youth Affairs

The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs combines aspects of the ministry of youth development and national service and sport and community development ministries. In addition to the programmes and bodies found under those ministries, the ministry is responsible for micro-development co-operatives including credit unions and national service, as well as friendly societies and the National Entrepreneurship Development Company.

Education

The Education Ministry under Minister Michael Dowlath remains unchanged, including having responsibility for moral, ethical and spiritual values.

Tertiary Education

The Ministry of Tertiary Education, under Minister Prof Prakash Persad, is responsible for GATE, distance learning, the national accreditation and apprenticeship systems, scholarships and advanced training, skills training and education, the student revolving loan fund and technical and vocational education, among others. It is responsible for On the Job Training programme, MIC and YTEPP, among other institutions.

The ministries of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Housing, and Labour, Small and Micro-Enterprise Development, and Works and Infrastructure have similar responsibilities as were carried out under the previous administration.