Suzette Taylor-Lee Chee
Permanent Secretary
Mrs. Suzette Taylor-Lee Chee has been appointed Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance with effect from January 1st, 2021. Mrs. Taylor-Lee Chee previously served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance from 2017 to 2020 and as Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance from 2014 to 2017.
Mrs. Taylor-Lee Chee begun her career at the Ministry of Finance in September 1992 as Economist I assigned to the Monetary Fiscal and Trade Division.
Mrs. Suzette Taylor-Lee Chee has been appointed Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance with effect from January 1st, 2021. Mrs. Taylor-Lee Chee previously served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance from 2017 to 2020 and as Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance from 2014 to 2017.
Mrs. Taylor-Lee Chee begun her career at the Ministry of Finance in September 1992 as Economist I assigned to the Monetary Fiscal and Trade Division.
She was subsequently appointed to the posts of Economist II and Senior Economist in the Coordinating and Monitoring Unit of the Ministry of Finance and successively, as Assistant Director, Economic Management Division (EMD), Macro Fiscal Unit.
Between 2009 and 2010 she was assigned to the World Bank in Washington DC, as the Government of Trinidad and Tobago’s representative to the World Bank; situated in the office of the Executive Director with responsibility for Brazil, Columbia, the Philippines, Suriname, Haiti, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago. Upon her return from Washington DC, Mrs. Taylor- Lee Chee was again assigned to the EMD, but this time as Assistant Director in charge of the Debt Management Unit.
Mrs. Taylor-Lee Chee possesses a B.Sc. degree in Economics from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine (1991) and a Masters of Business Administration, Heriot Watt University (2007). She has also benefited from numerous training programmes and seminars on various topics of relevance to the Ministry of Finance including Fiscal Policy, Financial Programming and Debt Management.
Dexter Jaggernauth
Permanent Secretary
Mr. Dexter Jaggernauth was appointed Permanent Secretary (Ag.) in the Ministry of Finance with effect from October 5th, 2023.
Mr. Jaggernauth holds a B.Sc. in Economics (Upper Second Class Honours) from the University of the West Indies and a Masters of Business Administration from Edinburgh Business School, U.K. He is a Chartered Certified Accountant by profession and a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), U.K.
Mr. Dexter Jaggernauth was appointed Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance with effect from October 5th, 2023.
Mr. Jaggernauth holds a B.Sc. in Economics (Upper Second Class Honours) from the University of the West Indies and a Masters of Business Administration from Edinburgh Business School, U.K. He is a Chartered Certified Accountant by profession and a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), U.K.
Mr. Jaggernauth’s current portfolio includes:
1. Formulation of a Five-year Strategic Plan for the Ministry of Finance;
2. Implementation of a Pension Plan for Daily Rated Employees in the Public Service; and
3. Supporting preparations of the National Budget.
Previously, Mr. Jaggernauth worked with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in Barbados as Project Operations Analyst, assessing and supervising institutional aspects of economic infrastructure projects in Caribbean member countries.
As a Trinidad and Tobago representative in the World Bank’s Voice Secondment Programme, Mr. Jaggernauth worked in the World Bank’s Financial Management Unit, where he assisted in improving audit controls for World Bank projects including Electricity and Water Projects across Sub Sahara Africa as part of the overall Governance and Anti-corruption Agenda.
Mr. Jaggernauth has also participated at the IMF in Financial Programming and Policy, including analysis of Real, Monetary, Fiscal and External Sectors of a country entering financial crisis, developing strategies to reverse the effect of the crisis.
Mr. Jaggernauth’s training also includes the McGill Executive Certificate Programme in International Development and Risk Management Training from the Caribbean Development Bank.
VASHTI MAHARAJ
Permanent Secretary (Ag)
Mrs. Vashti Maharaj is an accomplished public finance professional with over three decades of dedicated service in the public sector. Mrs. Maharaj currently serves as Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, having been appointed to act effective April 2nd, 2025.
Mrs. Maharaj began her career in 1990 as a Clerk I in the Treasury Division. Through consistent performance, professionalism, and leadership, she advanced through the ranks over a 32-year period, gaining extensive experience in public financial administration and policy implementation.
Mrs. Vashti Maharaj is an accomplished public finance professional with over three decades of dedicated service in the public sector. Mrs. Maharaj currently serves as Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, having been appointed to act effective April 2nd, 2025.
Mrs. Maharaj began her career in 1990 as a Clerk I in the Treasury Division. Through consistent performance, professionalism, and leadership, she advanced through the ranks over a 32-year period, gaining extensive experience in public financial administration and policy implementation.
In 2023, Mrs. Maharaj was promoted to the position of Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister, where she served for two years before returning to the Ministry of Finance.
A qualified Certified Chartered Accountant, Mrs. Maharaj earned her designation in 2005 with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and subsequently attained Fellowship status, reflecting her high level of professional achievement and expertise in accounting and financial management.
Throughout her career, Mrs. Maharaj has contributed to several major national initiatives, including:
The Government Payment System
The introduction of the Interim Minimum Pension
The decentralisation of Contract Gratuities
The removal of the requirement for Proof of Life Certificates for Public Officer pensioners who are citizens of Trinidad and Tobago
In addition to her core responsibilities, Mrs. Maharaj has served as a member of the Pension Oversight Committee for the Regional Health Authorities and the Sport and Culture Fund, demonstrating her commitment to governance and oversight in key public institutions.
Yvonne Neemacharan
Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag)
Ms. Yvonne Neemacharan has been appointed to act Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance effective 2nd, May 2016. Ms. Neemacharan began her career in the Public Service in November 1988 as a Temporary Clerk 1 within the Treasury Division.
Ms. Yvonne Neemacharan has been appointed to act Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance effective 2nd, May 2016. Ms. Neemacharan began her career in the Public Service in November 1988 as a Temporary Clerk 1 within the Treasury Division.
She remained dedicated and continued to serve in the Treasury Division for twenty-seven (27) years where she held numerous job positions. Her last position with the Division was Treasury Director, Pensions Management Branch.
In November 2015, Ms. Neemacharan was appointed to act Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services. A position she held until her appointment with the Ministry of Finance.
Ms. Neemacharan was involved in several projects within her tenure at the Treasury Division and as Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Social Development.
Naleisha Bally
Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag)
Ms Naleisha Bally a Certified Chartered Accountant having qualified in 2007 with the Association of Certified Chartered Accountant (ACCA) and became Fellow in 2017. She also hold a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Heriot Watt University in England.
Ms Naleisha Bally a Certified Chartered Accountant having qualified in 2007 with the Association of Certified Chartered Accountant (ACCA) and became Fellow in 2017. She also hold a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Heriot Watt University in England.
Ms. Bally is highly motivated career Public Servant having worked in various positions throughout the Public service for the past thirty-five (35) years, and is currently involved in the financial management accounting systems implemented by the Treasury Division for the Public Service. This includes; ensuring proper accountability and transparency of all public monies collected on behalf of the Government, represent the Treasury Division at Committee meetings both internally and externally, provide advice and guidance to Ministries /Departments/Divisions/Agencies and oversee the Public Financial Management Reform Programmes such as:
– Implementation of the Integrated Financial Management Information Systems (IFMIS)
– Introduction of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS)
– Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Systems, and
– Reform of the Internal Audit in Ministries and Departments within the Public Services.
Chandradai Harry
Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag)
Mrs. Chandradai Harry currently serves as the Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, a position she assumed on June 13, 2024. Prior to this, she held the role of Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary at the then Ministry of Sport and Community Development, beginning on September 27, 2020.
Mrs. Chandradai Harry currently serves as the Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, a position she assumed on June 13, 2024. Prior to this, she held the role of Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary at the then Ministry of Sport and Community Development, beginning on September 27, 2020.
Mrs. Harry began her career in the public service in 1990 as a Clerk I at the Ministry of National Security. Over the course of more than 30 years, she has served in various capacities across multiple ministries, demonstrating a longstanding commitment to public administration.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and is a qualified member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
In addition to her core responsibilities, Mrs. Harry has served on numerous Board Committees, including those focused on Finance, Tenders, and Human Resources. She has also been an active member of several strategic committees such as the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) Pension Oversight Committee, the Contract Review Committee, and the Ministerial Tenders Committee.
Her professional development includes training in a wide range of areas, including Leadership in Management, Investigating Conflicts of Interest, Fraud Prevention, Legal Management of Commercial Contracts, Effective Corporate Governance, Accountability, and Board Leadership. Beyond her administrative and financial expertise, she has pursued personal development through Christian Counselling studies and has earned a First-Level Certificate in Theology.