Agriculture Minister Vasant Bharath has been appointed acting Minister of Finance. Bharath, a senator, was appointed in the position yesterday by acting President Timothy Hamel-Smith in accordance with the advice of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, a release from the Government Information Services Ltd said.
His appointment took effect yesterday and will continue during the absence of Finance Minister Winston Dookeran, who is out of the country. Bharath will continue to discharge his other duties as Agriculture Minister and senator. Further, Persad-Bissessar has also advised Hamel-Smith to appoint Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie to act as Minister of Trade and Industry with immediate effect, the release yesterday said.
Trade Minister Stephen Cadiz is out of the country. Tewarie, Minister of Planning and the Economy, who is also a senator, will continue to discharge his normal duties, the statement said.