Executive Leadership


Permanent Secretary

Mrs. Sonia Francis-Yearwood

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Transport Mrs. Sonia Francis-Yearwood has over 20 years' experience, in the fields of Project Management, Project Financing, Economics and Aviation. Her project experience encompasses all areas of transport as well as road and building infrastructure.

Mrs. Francis-Yearwood holds two MBAs in Aviation Management and Implementation of Development Projects from the University of the West Indies and the University Of Manchester Institute Of Science and Technology and her expertise in the field of finance was honed through her BSc. in Economics and her ACCA Diploma in Financial Management. She has represented the Ministry of Works and Transport on several international and regional committees.

Her journey in the public service is evidence of her commitment to national service, having risen through the ranks from Planning Officer I, Project Analyst, Senior Economist, Deputy Permanent Secretary and Permanent Secretary in July 2017. Her vision is to see the Ministry of Works and Transport provide safe, high-quality infrastructure and an integrated transportation system that supports the contemporary needs of our country.
 

Deputy Permanent Secretary

Mr. Stephen A. Abhiraj

Mr. Stephen A. Abhiraj entered the Public Service in 1990 as an Electronic Data Processing Programmer I in the Inland Revenue Division of the Ministry of Finance after several short stints in the Private Sector.

With 33 years of service in the Public Sector, Mr. Abhiraj has served in central agencies in the areas of Information Communication Technology, Human Resource Management, Financial Management and Public Administration and has also worked in line Ministries such as Agriculture, Health and National Security. His assignments required that he provide service to notable entities including the Office of the President, the Office of the Prime Minister, the Integrity Commission, the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, two Statutory Authorities and one State Company. Mr. Abhiraj’s extensive years of experience also required him to work alongside and equally provide support to external Consultants from the Private Sector and multilateral agencies.

He holds university qualifications in Computer Studies, International Relations, Public Sector Management and Computer Science, all of which have honed his managerial skill set. 

Mr. Abhiraj believes in the oneness of mankind and that through collaboration most challenges can be overcome. He has chosen public service as the vehicle through which he will contribute to the enhancement of humanity while giving due consideration to all of creation.