Minister

Senator the Honourable Randall Seth Mitchell is the Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts. He was born and raised in San Fernando and first entered the Parliament in 2015 as the elected representative for San Fernando East.

He was made a member of the Cabinet and has served as Minister of Public Administration, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, and Minister of Tourism before the merger of the Culture and Arts portfolio with Tourism in 2020.

Minister Mitchell is an attorney-at-law by profession and holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of London and a Master of Laws from the University of Northumbria. He also possesses an International Master of Business Administration from Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine.

Permanent Secretary (Ag.)

Mr. Videsh Maharaj assumed duties as Permanent Secretary (Ag.) in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts on October 6, 2023. Before this appointment, he served as Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education and the Director, Investment at the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

PS (Ag.) Maharaj has a background in investments and economics, along with extensive training and experience in policy development, implementation and analysis; trade negotiation; investment facilitation; market analysis; and project management.

He is a proud graduate of the University of the West Indies with both a Bachelor and Master of Science in Economics. PS (Ag.) Maharaj also served on several Cabinet appointed committees, including the 2008 Committee to Review Incentives under the Tourism Development Act.

Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag.)

Mr. Martel Waldron is a senior human resource management professional with 28 years of Public Service experience. He is a proud Anglia Ruskin University graduate with over 14 years of senior technical and professional experience in areas including: Strategic Leadership; Policy Formation; Project Planning; Organizational Development; recruitment and selection; Assessment Center Methodologies; Mentoring and Coaching; Disciplinary Procedures and Employee Relations.

He was appointed to perform the duties of Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts in February 2024, offering valuable support to the Permanent Secretary.