Members of Committees

Kwesi Antoine was sworn in as Vice Chairman of San Juan Laventille Regional Corporation on August 30, 2023. Mr Antoine is the Councillor for Caledonia/ Malick. He is serving over five terms as a Councillor in the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge of community work that compliments his institutional knowledge and capacity in the governance and principles of the region. Councillor Antoine serves as the Chairman of the Public Health Committee, where his role and strategic guidance are crucial to its success. An independent businessman by profession, Councillor Antoine is charged with ensuring that his committee’s available resources are appropriately utilized towards the region’s optimal public health and safety. Councillor Antoine’s implementation of recreational grounds for both sports activities and children within his community is a top priority. Councillor Antoine displays his passion and belief in the benefits of sport which is clearly evident as he also manages the Caledonia Clippers basketball team.

Councillor Jenise Coward-Charles is a child of the soil of Febeau / Bourg Mulatresse. Her motto for her campaign, “Your Community, My Community, Our Community…” reinforces her love and contribution to the community. Councillor Coward-Charles is a member of the La Canoa Committee Council and also volunteers as an evening school homework assistant for children in the community. She is a wife and mother of two and works as an Accountant Assistant at Agostini Insurance Brokers Limited. She is currently pursuing a Degree in Social Work.

Councillor Coward-Charles is a young, vibrant woman who sees the need to represent and be the voice of the community and its residents. Her vision includes maintaining and securing proper infrastructure, community activities and academic support for the community of Febeau/ Bourg Mulatresse. She is an active member of her Party Group holding positions of Chairwoman, Vice Chairwoman, Secretary, and Youth Officer. She is currently the Public Relations Officer of the St. Ann’s East Woman’s League.

Adanna Griffith-Gordon is currently serving her fourth term as an elected Councillor for the electoral district of Success/ Trou Macaque. As the Chairperson of the Corporate Services Committee, Councillor Griffith-Gordon has oversight on a range of administrative and internal services that support operations and contribute to the efficiency of the Corporation. This Committee is directly responsible for the following areas: Human Resource Management, Legal, General Administration, Information Technology, Industrial Relations, Health and Safety, and the Municipal Police. Councillor Griffith-Gordon is steadfast in ensuring that not only infrastructural issues are addressed, but she also focuses on youth enrichment and casting a wider net of opportunities for their improvement.

Councillor Griffith-Gordon’s life motto of “Together we will make the difference!” where every initiative by Councillor Griffith-Gordon is geared towards promoting the interest and welfare of her burgesses.

Sherwyn Jones, Councillor for the electoral district of St. Ann’s/ Cascade/ Mon Repos is a Councillor for four (4) consecutive terms.  Councillor Jones’ engagement in the business sector has provided him with a unique viewpoint, knowledge and experience which is evident in his contributions to Council Meetings and the growth of his electoral district. This resourcefulness plays a vital role in the management of the Spatial Planning and Building Inspectorate Committee of which he is the Chairman. Outside of developmental projects within his community, he continues to work towards the social relief efforts for his burgesses who may require a platform to access public grants available to them. As an avid reader, Councillor Jones’ focal point is to continuously gather new and scientific information to build his knowledge base.

Councillor Shaniqua Harris has been employed as a Research Assistant at the Laventille West Constituency Office since 2019. Councillor Harris is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Global Studies at the University of West Indies, St. Augustine. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations with a minor in Political Science (Honours). She has obtained her CAPE passes from the Polytechnic Sixth Form Government School and earned her CSEC passes from St James Secondary School. Councillor Harris has received academic awards for her exceptional performance in Accounting and Management of Business for both units of C.A.P.E. and Academic Excellence for C.S.E.C. Councillor Harris is actively involved in the Laventille West Constituency, serving as the Assistant Secretary of the Laventille West Executive since 2019. She is also the Assistant Secretary of the Laventille West Women’s League (2022 to Present) and has previously held the position of Vice Chairman (2019-2022) and Secretary (2017-2019) of the Laventille West Youth League. Additionally, Councillor Harris serves as a Director of the ‘I am Laventille’ Foundation. Her hobbies include volunteering, hiking, and blogging, and her passion is community development.

Kimberly Small is the Councillor for the electoral district of Barataria serving in her second term. Councillor Small is a homegrown, Baratarian who is passionate about her region and is heavily involved in her home district; as evidenced by her deep involvement and support of several community-based organizations such as the Barataria Police Station Council, the Parish of St. Theresa’s (Malick/ Barataria) and Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) El Socorro.

As a Councillor, Ms Small endeavours to elevate and enrich the lives of persons within the Barataria community by initiating programmes focused on fostering community spirit, health, wellness, education, career and skills development. One of her goals is to work in partnership and forge relationships with all the varying community-oriented and business groups within her district in an effort to develop the community with as many resources as possible.

Junior St. Hillaire is the Councillor for the electoral district of Morvant and is a passionate member of his community as he continues to offer solutions to challenges and issues both from an infrastructural and socio-economic perspective. Councillor St. Hillaire is a trained Human Resource professional and has spent most of his career at a State enterprise. He is accredited with an MBA in Business Administration, creating an insightful approach to his role as a councillor and active advocate to meet the needs of the burgesses.  In his spare time, he is an active football player in numerous clubs including TSTT and Daybreak Football Club.

Councillor Darren Corridon has always been deeply committed to giving back to his community, serving as the President of the Picton Folk Performing Company from 2006 and as the Field Officer for Laventille West from 2016 to the present. He is also the founder and owner of Vibes Mas and Vibe Rhyme Band from 2016 to the present. He is the current Vice Chairman of the Morvant/Laventille school board. Additionally, he is a committee member of the Beetham Laventille Queen Show and the Laventille West Sports Committee. Councillor Corridon generously offers his services to the community and schools for events, serving as a drumming tutor and mentor for schools such as Belmont Junior Secondary School, Southeast POS, and St Barbs Government Primary School, where he has guided many young men and women to become well-rounded individuals who have gone on to become music teachers and professional performers. He seeks to continue implementing initiatives that contribute to the ongoing development of the community. He plans to work closely with the youth, assist with infrastructural growth, and address social and economic concerns. He is involved in charitable drives, such as procuring hampers and school supplies for those in need.

Jodi Johnson is the Councillor for San Juan West and is currently serving her fourth term at the San Juan / Laventille Regional Corporation. Councillor Johnson’s academic background in Social Work and Public Administration from the University of the West Indies acts as a supportive arm for her current role as a School Social Worker.

Councillor Johnson during her previous terms has developed creative platforms to maintain an open dialogue with her community geared towards sustainable economic growth. She encourages her burgesses to implement cottage industry and small business initiatives to encourage local economic growth in the region. This, in turn, will produce a mechanism for a higher standard of living. Her adage of “Where there is a will, there is a way,” is the momentum she uses to overcome challenges and limited resources however this adage also relies on Councillor Johnson’s ability to network.

Raphael John is currently serving his third term as Councillor for San Juan East. He is credited with an MBA in Project Management and Information Systems. A practitioner of Islam and an avid chess player, Councillor John’s combined skills and capacity have afforded him inputs for the holistic management of the region’s resources. As the representative for his area, Councillor John is committed to serving his burgesses. He considers key performance indicators of infrastructure, completion and expressed satisfaction of the burgesses as a way of measuring the achievement of his community-based goals.

Councillor Israel Joseph Charles was born in Cantaro Village Santa Cruz. He attended Caribbean Union College High School and was sent to Monsterrat as a Missionary and served as a Chaplain. Councillor Charles firmly believes in giving back to his community which is displayed in his service as Chairman of the Cantaro Community Council for four years and worked with Habitat for Humanity assisting residents with their issues.

Councillor Charles has worked in the field of Crisis Management and Disaster Preparedness Emergency Response and Recovery for the last 18 years. His love for community outreach and helping others is evident in his volunteerism in such organizations as the Adventist Development Relief Agency, Pan American Disaster Relief Unit, the International Federation of Red Cross, Red Cross Society of Trinidad and Tobago, and others. Currently, he is a final year student at Scott Community College pursuing an Associate’s Degree in Health Safety and Environmental Technology, he is also pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Homeland Security at the American Military University.  In addition to his love for the community, Councillor Charles shares interest in farming, beekeeping, hiking, reading, cooking, playing football, and table tennis.

Councillor Amit Sooknanan is a certified Draughtsman with a passion for architecture and building design. These technical and precise skills are an added value in understanding the structural and developmental projects within the region. In his third term as Councillor for the electoral district of Aranguez/ Warner Village, he remains committed to the infrastructural development of his burgesses where flooding has been an issue. This has become both a long and short-term goal in mitigating against loss of property within the community. Through Councillor Sooknanan’s passion for construction and architecture, he can foresee the need for infrastructural adjustments and quick calculations needed for assessments. Councillor Sooknanan is an avid Chutney Singer, and active cricketer, who enjoys the arts, entertainment and music.

Racquel Ghany, the Councillor for the district El Soccorro / Aranguez North continues to offer support for her burgesses in serving their needs for ongoing concerns. Councillor Ghany is experienced in Accounting, Business Management, and Human Resource Management, offering solid solutions and direct input to the decision-making process in support of Members of the Council. She has served on the PTA of La Pastora Government Primary School and, as Assistant Secretary of the Members of Cantaro Community Council (2016-2018). Currently, she serves as the Treasurer from 2018 to the present. She has also served as Temporary Senator – Opposition (2017). Councillor Ghany remains committed to ensuring the growth and development of her community through structural and developmental programs with long-term achievements.