Trinidad and Tobago: List of Ministers in the government from 1998-2001, and changes particularly in the Ministry of Public Utilities and whether minister is being investigated on suspicion of involvement in money laundering or drug trafficking
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 23 August 2001 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | TTO37552.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Trinidad and Tobago: List of Ministers in the government from 1998-2001, and changes particularly in the Ministry of Public Utilities and whether minister is being investigated on suspicion of involvement in money laundering or drug trafficking , 23 August 2001, TTO37552.E , available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4beb114.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following list of ministers in the government of Trinidad and Tobago is extracted from The Europa World Year Books 1998-2000.
Ministry May 1998 May 1999 May 2000
Legal Affairs Kamla Persad-Bissessar same Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj
Foreign Affairs Ralph Maraj same same
National Sec. Brig-Gen. (rtd)
Joseph Theodore same same
Finance &
Tourism Brian Kuei Tung same same
Agriculture
Lands & Marine
Resources Reeza Mohammed same Trevor Sudama
Works & Transport Sadiq Baksh same same
Housing &
Settlement John Humphrey same same
Public Admin.
& Information Wade Mark same same
Education Adesh Nanan same Kamla Persad-Bisessar
Health Hamza Rafeeq same Dr. Hamza Rafeq
Planning & Dev't Trevor Sudama same Brian Kuei Tung
Trade, Industry &
Consumer Affairs Mervyn Assam same Mervyn Assam
Labour &
Cooperatives Harry Partap same same
Community Dev.
Culture & Women's
Affairs Dr. Daphne Phillips same same
Local Government Dhanraj Singh same same
Public Utilities Ganga Singh same same
Energy & Energy
Industries Finbar K Gangar same same
Social Dev't. Manohar Ramsaran same same
Sport & Youth
Affairs Pamela Nicholson same Manohar Ramsaran
Minister in the
Office of the Prime
Minister with
Responsibilities for
the environment Vincent Lasse same Reeza Mohammed
Minister in the
Office of the Prime
Minister with responsibilities for
Distance Learning,
Telecommunications,
And employment Rupert Griffith same same
Tobago Affairs Dr. Morgan Jobsame same
Tourism Adesh Nanan
Minister in the office of the Prime Minister Lindsay Gillette
According to information posted on the Website of the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission in Ottawa, the following is the "New Cabinet" (n.d).
Prime Minister Hon. Basdeo Panday
Attorney General and
Legal Affairs, Hon. Ramesh Maharaj
Communications and Information
Technology Hon. Ralph Maraj
Community, Empowerment
Sport and Consumer Affairs Hon. Manohar Ramsaran
Education Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Energy and Energy
Industries Sen. the Hon. Lindsay Gillette
Enterprise Development,
Foreign Affairs and Tourism Hon. Mervyn Assam
Environment, Dr. Adesh Nanan
Finance Sen. The Hon. Gerald
Yetmig
Food Production
& Marine Resources Hon. Trevor Sudama
Health Hon. Hamza Rafeeq
Housing and Settlements Hon. Sadiq Baksh
Human Development, Youth
And Culture, Hon. Ganga Singh
Infrastructure Development
And local government Hon. Carlos John
Integrated Planning and
Development, Hon. John Humphrey
Labour, Manpower Development
And Industrial Relations Hon. Harry Parta
Transport
National Security Sen. The Hon. Jearlean John
According to The Europa World Year Book 1998 (3342), 1999 (3490), and 2000 (3594), the Minister of Public Utilities was Ganga Singh. However, according to People in Power (1 May 2001, 188), and to the Websites of the High Commission of Trinidad and Tobago (n.d) and the CIA, Ganga Singh is now the Minister of Human Development, Youth and Culture (26 Feb. 2001). None of these sources lists a Public Utilities Minister (ibid., High Commission of Trinidad & Tobago, n.d., People in Power 1 May 2001, 188).
No information on an investigation concerning ministers suspected of involvement in money laundering or drug trafficking could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, the following information might be useful. The Latin American Caribbean & Central America Report, states that police accused former Minister of Local Government in the 1998 -1999 cabinet, Dhanaj Singh, of "receiving kickbacks of up to 50 percent of the value of contracts awarded by his ministry to a contractor, Karmchand Pampersad (3 Mar. 2001, 3). An earlier issue alleges that Prime Minister Panday dismissed Dhanraj Singh on 12 October 2000, when he [Dhanraj] declared his intention not to contest his seat in the 2001 general election (ibid. 31 Oct. 2000, 3).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
CIA Website. 2 February 2001. "Trinidad and Tobago."
The Europa World Year Book 1998-2000 . 1998-2000. 42-44th ed. Vol. 2. London: Europa Publications.
Latin American Caribbean & Central America Report [London]. 27 March 2001. RC-01- 03. "Dhanraj Singh."
_____. 31 October 2001. RC-00-09. "Minister Sacked."
People in Power . 1 May 2001. Release No. 84. CIRCA.
Trinidad and Tobago High Commission, Ottawa. n.d. "New Cabinet Appointed."
Additional Sources Consulted
Amnesty International
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1998-2000. 1998-2001.
Latin American Regional Reports: Andean Group [London]. 1998-2001.
IRB Databases.
Internet sites including:
Human Rights Watch.
US Bureau for International Narcotics and Law enforcement Affairs
OECD
United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention.
Search engines including:
Dogpile