VZCZCXRO4206
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DE RUEHSP #1151/01 3271856
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 231856Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8828
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PORT OF SPAIN 001151 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR. INR/IAA AND INR/B 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL TD
SUBJECT: BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES OF NEW CABINET MEMBERS 
 
 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Prime Minister Patrick Manning's new 
cabinet includes a number of new faces, some members of his 
former cabinet who have been given different portfolios, and 
two who have retained their old ministries.  The cabinet is 
noteworthy for the number of women the PM has placed in 
positions of power.  Despite some sniping and skepticism from 
the media and members of the defeated UNC-A party, the 
general public, as well as career members of the various 
ministries, seem willing to adopt a "wait and see" attitude. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Brief biographies of the members of Prime Minister 
Patrick Manning's new cabinet follow: 
 
Mustapha ABDUL-HAMID*Minister of Public Utilities 
 
Mr. Abdul-Hamid was Minister of Science, Technology and 
Tertiary Education immediately prior to the elections.  He 
was also previously Minister of Social Development.  Before 
beginning government service, he worked as a teacher after 
receiving a BA from the University of the West Indies in 
History and Political Science. 
 
 
Bridgid ANNISETTE-GEORGE*Attorney General 
 
Ms. Annissete-George, was previously an attorney in private 
practice and a lecturer at Hugh Wooding Law School in St. 
Augustine.   Her small law firm specialized in civil and 
matrimonial law, conveyancing and probate. 
 
Amery BROWNE*Minister of Social Development 
 
Mr. Brown, a young doctor who was chosen to run for the seat 
of the ousted candidate Ken Valley, previously served as the 
National Director of the National AIDS Coordinating 
Committee.  As a former chairman and board member for several 
medical organizations, PM Manning continually placed Dr. 
Brown in the spot-light during the campaigning. 
 
Emily DICK-FORDE*Minister of Planning, Housing and 
Environment 
 
Dr. Dick-Forde was previously Acting Head of the Department 
of Management Studies at the University of the West Indies. 
She has a BS with first class honors from the University of 
the West Indies, a Master's Degree in Finance from the 
University of Cambridge, and  a PhD in Accounting from the 
University of Dundee. 
 
Rennie DUMAS*Minister of Labor and Small and 
Micro-Enterprise Development 
 
Mr. Dumas, 52, previously served as Minister of Local 
Government.  He has both undergraduate and postgraduate 
degrees in management from the University of the West Indies, 
and has experience as a teacher, manager and policy analyst. 
 
Conrad ENILL*Minister of Energy and Energy Industries 
 
Mr. ENILL served as a junior minister in the Ministry of 
Finance before the elections (PM Manning held the portfolio 
of Minister of Finance).  He has an MBA from Brunul 
University and Hanley Management College in England.  Mr. 
Enill has extensive management experience in the fields of 
sales and marketing, technology and consulting, and finance. 
The PM chose to take Mr. Enill with him to the Commonwealth 
Summit to discuss energy cooperation. 
 
 
 
Paula GOPEE-SCOON*Minister of Foreign Affairs 
 
Ms. Gopee-Scoon, 49, was a relative unknown in the Pt. Fortin 
district from which she ran for Parliament, having left there 
when she was 17.  She earned a BS in Public Administration 
and Law from the University of the West Indies in Barbados 
and an honors LLB from the University of London.  She has 
experience as a teacher and a banker.  Ms. Gopee-Scoon, who 
is reputed to be a very pleasant person, is not known to the 
local diplomatic community and has openly said she will be in 
a learning mode in her initial period at the MFA.  She did 
not accompany the PM to the Commonwealth Summit, his first 
post-election foreign trip. 
 
Gary HUNT*Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs 
 
Mr. Hunt, 47, was originally an avionics services engineer, 
 
PORT OF SP 00001151  002 OF 003 
 
 
then established and ran a fashion design business before 
entering politics. 
 
Colm IMBERT*Minister of Works and Transport 
 
Mr. Imbert retained his post.  He has also served as Minister 
of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education, and as 
Minister of Health.  He has a BS in Civil Engineering, a MS 
in Maritime Civil Engineering, and a Master of Laws in 
Construction Law and Arbitration with distinction.  Mr. 
Imbert will oversee several large scale highway, high-speed 
rail, and ferry projects in the coming years. 
 
Martin JOSEPH*Minister of National Security and 
Rehabilitation 
 
Mr. Joseph retained his post at the Ministry of National 
Security, where he has served since November of 2003, despite 
criticism regarding the crime situation in Trinidad and 
Tobago.  He has previously served as Minister of Housing and 
Minister of Public Utilities and the Environment.  Mr. Joseph 
received a B.A from George Washington University and a MS. 
from the University of Maryland.    Mr. Joseph's area of 
expertise is in human resource management.  He has a son at 
the Air Force Academy. 
 
Christine KANGALOO*Minister of Science, Technology and 
Tertiary Education 
 
Ms. Kangaloo was appointed Minister of Legal Affairs in early 
2007, and served in that position until the election.  She 
was appointed an Opposition Senator in 2001, and then was 
appointed a Government Senator in 2002.  From October 2002 
until her appointment as Minister of Legal Affairs, she 
worked as a Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister. 
 
Esther LE GENDRE*Minister of Education 
 
Ms. Le Gendre has an  MBA from the University of the West 
Indies.  She formerly held senior positions at the National 
Investment Bank and several local advertising, insurance, and 
oil companies.  She has received training and certification 
in internal brand management, corporate social 
responsibility, and community relations.  A founding member 
of the Rotary Club of Maraval, she is fluent in French and 
Spanish. 
 
Hazel MANNING*Minister of Local Government 
 
Ms. Manning, wife of the PM, was previously Minister of 
Education, where she won favorable reviews for her 
performance.  She is a social scientist who has also worked 
in the Ministry of Planning and Development and as the 
Manager of the Social Affairs Unit of the National Housing 
Authority.  Prime Minister Manning said he place Ms. Manning 
as Minister of Local Government due to her experience in 
bringing people together to cooperate and in collecting and 
assessing data., particularly social assessment surveys. 
He also noted that if any local government reorganization is 
necessary, his wife's experience in restructuring involving 
the Education Ministry would be valuable. 
 
Patrick MANNING*Prime Minister 
 
Patrick Manning previously served as PM from 1991-95 and from 
2001 to the 2007 election.  He has served in a number of 
ministries, and was first elected to Parliament in 1971. 
Extensive biographic information on Mr. Manning is available 
in Washington and on Embassy websites. 
 
Marlene MCDONALD*Minister of Community Development, Culture 
and Gender Affairs 
 
Ms. McDonald, a former teacher, is also an attorney-at-law 
and an economist.  She attended the University of the West 
Indies both in Barbados and at St. Augustine. 
 
Jerry NARACE*Minister of Health 
 
Mr. Narace, a wealthy businessman, was previously an at-large 
Ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago.  As head of Public 
Relations for the PNM, he played a key role in the campaign. 
He enjoys the confidence and ear of the Prime Minister, but 
it is not clear how much he can sway him. 
 
Karen NUNEZ-TESHEIRA*Minister of Finance 
 
Ms. Nunez-Tesheira, 51, an attorney and Senior Tutor at Hugh 
Wooding Law School in St. Augustine, earned her law degree 
from University of the West Indies in St. Augustine and a 
 
PORT OF SP 00001151  003 OF 003 
 
 
Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School. 
 She also holds an Executive MBA from the Arthur Lok Jack 
School of Business.  She was a surprise choice for Minister 
of Finance and has drawn some comments about her lack of 
experience.  Ms. Nunez-Tesheira said she would rely on the 
experience, expertise and advice of career professionals in 
the Ministry to bring her up to speed. 
 
Neil PARSANLAL*Minister of Information 
 
Mr. Parsanlal, 42,  is a former communications specialist and 
former seminarian.  He received his degree in Marketing 
Communications from New York University and has experience 
working with many of the largest companies in Trinidad and 
Tobago. 
 
 
Arnold PIGOTT*Minister of Agriculture, Land and Marine 
Resources 
 
Mr. Pigott was previously Minister of Foreign Affairs, and 
prior to that was Trinidad and Tobago's High Commissioner to 
Canada.  He was previously Minister of Works and Transport 
for ten months in 2002.  Mr. Piggott has a background in 
banking and extensive experience as a financial consultant. 
Mr. Pigott received his Bachelor of Business Administration 
(BBA) from St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York. 
 
Joseph ROSS*Minister of Tourism 
 
Mr. Ross, a certified auditor, has a Bachelor's Degree in 
Industrial Management and a post-graduate degree in 
Environmental Management.  He has held senior positions in 
the Ministry of Finance, Water and Sewer Authority (WASA), 
and the National Petroleum Marketing Company. 
 
Keith ROWLEY*Minister of Trade and Industry 
 
Dr. Rowley replaces Ken Valley, whom Manning prevented from 
standing again as a candidate for Parliament.  Rowley was 
previously Minister of Housing, and has also served as 
Minister of Planning and Development and Minister of 
Agriculture, Lands and Marine Resources.  He was Deputy 
Political Leader of the PNM between 1987 and 1995.  He has a 
PhD in Geology. 
 
Lenny SAITH*Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister 
 
Dr. Saith is a trusted colleague of the PM and often serves 
as Acting PM in Manning's absence.  He was dual-hatted in the 
last administration as Energy Minister and also as the 
Minister of Public Administration and Information (this 
latter Ministry was split into two entities after the 
election.)  In his new job, Saith is expected to help guide 
and coordinate his new cabinet members to assure the PM's 
wishes are carried out. 
 
Kennedy SWARATSINGH*Minister of Public Administration 
 
Mr. Swaratsingh was previously an ordained priest and also a 
Major in the TT Defense Force.  In addition to a BA in 
Theology he has an MBA in Human Resource Management and 
Tourism.  Most recently he was CEO of the Government Human 
Resources Services Company Limited. 
 
Peter TAYLOR*Minister of Legal Affairs 
 
Mr. Taylor , 42,  an attorney, has worked as a project 
analyst with the Ministry of Planning and Development, as a 
legal research officer at the Chief Personnel Office, and as 
a journalist with the Trinidad Guardian..  He has a degree 
from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. 
 
AUSTIN