President confirms new appointments
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday confirmed the appointments of Mr. Saisnarine Kowlessar as Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Financial Matters and Mr. Geoffrey DaSilva as Minister of Trade, Tourism and Industry. Nine new Permanent Secretaries and one reappointment were also named by the President at a press conference at the Office of the President yesterday. They will be sworn in Tuesday after the President returns from the Rupununi. Kowlessar holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor's degree in Economics. He is a member of the Bank of Guyana Board of Directors, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Guyana and a former Head of the Business and Management Studies Department at the university. "We are aware of and concerned about the health condition of current Trade Minister Michael Shree Chan", Mr Jagdeo said. He said Shree Chan has been asked to be relieved of ministerial duties adding, "in so doing, I wish to publicly state my Government's gratitude to him for serving in his portfolio with diligence." Shree Chan, who headed the ministry since the People's Progressive Party/Civic assumed office in October 1992, will be working in the Office of the President as an adviser. DaSilva has served as the President's Adviser on Good Governance and was Guyana's Consul General in Toronto. During Shree Chan's illness and absence from office earlier this year, DaSilva assisted with overseeing the smooth functioning of the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Industry. The Permanent Secretaries are Ms. Sonya Roopnauth, Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Industry; Mr. Kenneth Jordan, Ministry of Public Works and Communications; Mr. Doorga Persaud, Ministry of Health and Labour; Mr. Claude Marks, Ministry of Legal Affairs; Mr. Phulander Kanhai, Ministry of Local Government; Dr. Randolph Williams, Ministry of Home Affairs; Dr. Prem Misir, Ministry of Information; Mr. Dindyal Permaul, Ministry of Agriculture; Ms. Jennifer Webster, Office of the President and Dr Nanda Gopaul, Public Service Ministry. Marks has been Permanent Secretary in the Health Ministry. Noting that he has stressed the need for government to be more result-oriented and responsive to the needs of the population, the President said changes and adjustments were being made at various state levels as part of an ongoing process. He said the appointment of the new Permanent Secretaries was in keeping with that thrust and expected the changes "will bring renewed vigour and talent to the work of the government." "The Guyanese people can expect more effective and efficient functioning of these ministries", he said. At the press conference were Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon and Information Minister, Mr. Moses Nagamootoo. Profiles of the new appointees Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance Name: Saisnarine Kowlesser Age: 45 Years Education: Master in Business Administration (Banking and Financing) Adelphi University, Bachelor's Degree. Soc. Sc., Economics, University of Guyana. Experience: Head, Department of Business and Management Studies, Lecturer II, Department of Business and Management Studies, Assistant Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Director, Bank of Guyana Board of Governors. Minister of Trade, Tourism and Industry Name: Geoffrey DaSilva Age: 45 Years Education: Bachelor of Arts Degree in Latin America and Caribbean Studies, York University. Experience: Advisor to the President on Good Governance, Consul General for Guyana, Toronto Manager & Community Liaison Coordiantor, Canadian Tribune Publishing Company. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs Name: Randolph Augustus Williams Education: Master of Social Science, Mona Campus, University of the West Indies; Bachelor of Social Science (Economics), University of Guyana. Experience: Technical Adviser (Projects), Ministry of Health National Projects Officer, UNICEF Research Assistant, Institute of Development Studies, University of Guyana Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health & Labour Name: Doorga Persaud Education: Master of Arts Degree, Bachelor of (Soc) Science Degree (Economics) Experience: Head, Guyana Natural Resources Agency, Economist, Guyana Natural Resources Agency. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information Name: Prem Misir Education: Ph. D Sociology M. Phil Sociology, University of Surrey B.S.Sc. Social Studies & Economics Queen's University of Belfast, U.K Experience: Department of Sociology & Anthropology Director, Research Institute for the Study of the Caribbean Diaspora. Editor-in-Chief, Caribbean Journal Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Legal Affairs Name: Claude Marks Education: Master's Degree Social Science Experience: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Works and Communication. Name: Kenneth Jordan Education: Master's Degree Public Administration, Dalhousie University, Canada. BS Degree, Sociology Diploma, Social Work. Experience: Coordinator of Private Sector Investment Programme, Senior Planning Project Cycle Management Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Name: Phulander Kanhai Education: Bachelor of Arts Degree (History, University of Guyana, 1997) Experience: City Councillor, Georgetown, Cyril Potter College Board, Private Sector Management Position, Administrative Manager, Office of the President. Permanent Secretary, Public Service Ministry Name: Nandakishore Gopaul Education: P. HD Industrial & Business Studies, Warwick University Business School Experience: General Secretary, NAACIE Consultant, Ministry of Health & Labour Member, Guyana Mortgage Finance Bank Board Member, Critchlow Labour College Board Member, Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund Board Permanent Secretary, Office of the President Name: Jennifer Webster Education: Bachelor's Degree (Accounting) ACCA Level 11 Experience: Principal Assistant Secretary (Finance) Chief Accountant, Office of the President. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture Name: Dindyal Permaul Education: Doctor of Philosophy (London) in Integrated Management of Stored Product Pests, University of London. Diploma of Imperial College in Rice Storage Pest Management, University of London. Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture, University of Guyana, Diploma in Agriculture, Guyana School of Agriculture Experience: Senior Lecturer, University of Guyana, Co-ordinator, Forestry Unit, Asst. Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, U.G Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Industry Name: Sonya Roopnauth Education: Masters In International Affairs, Economic Policy Management, Columbia University Bachelor in Social Science, Economics, University of Guyana. Experience: Economist, Ministry of Finance.
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