The Honourable Davendranath Tancoo, MP.
Minister of Finance
After serving for thirty years as an economic advisor to both Mr. Basdeo Panday and the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, and in the private sector, as a project manager and executive director, Davendranath Tancoo entered public life in 2020, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and experience.
After serving for thirty years as an economic advisor to both Mr. Basdeo Panday and the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, and in the private sector, as a project manager and executive director, Davendranath Tancoo entered public life in 2020, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and experience.
He was first elected Member of Parliament for Oropouche West on August 10th, 2020. Following the United National Congress’ electoral victory on April 28th, 2025, where he was elected Member of Parliament for his home constituency Fyzabad, he was appointed Minister of Finance in the Kamla Persad-Bissessar government on May 3rd, 2025.
A graduate of Iere High School, Davendranath holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (Honours) from the University of the West Indies, a Master’s in Business Administration (Merit) from Anglia Ruskin University, and is also a qualified attorney at law, completing his LLB (Honours) from the University of London and Legal Practice Certificate (Distinction) from Staffordshire University and was called to the Bar in 2018.
He has also been certified by:
– Mc Gill University (Montreal, Canada) – Parliamentary Residence Course: Issues in Parliamentary Governance: Accounting and Accountability (Certificate)
– Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School (Mt. Hope) – Public Sector Procurement and Contract Management of Business. (Workshop)
– Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (Texas, USA) – Fraud Risk Management (Certificate)
– University of the West Indies, School of Continuing Studies- Measurement of Civil and Engineering Works (Grade: A+) and Cost Planning and Estimating (Grade: A+) (Certificate)
He has served as Chief Economist to the Leader of the Opposition under Mr. Basdeo Panday (1990-1995) and Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC (2006-2010) and (2015-2020).
During the Panday administration, he acted as an adviser to the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar in her roles as Attorney General, Minister of Legal Affairs, and Minister of Education.
Following the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s election as Prime Minister on May 24th, 2010, he was appointed Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and the Economy where he provided the Honourable Prime Minister with advice and support on government’s economic, trade, and fiscal policies.
Upon his election to the House of Representatives in 2020 and held Parliamentary leadership roles as the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in the Twelfth Republican Parliament, was a member of the Joint Select Committees on the Representation of the People Amendment Bill (No.2) 2020 and the Shipping Bill 2020 and acted as the Opposition’s Deputy Chief Whip.
As the Opposition Shadow for Finance, he played a significant role at the Parliament’s Standing Finance Committee meetings and during debates on the national budget and mid-year review.
As a lawyer, legislator and economist, he has championed transparency, accountability and robust procurement regulations, and committed to advancing the nation through good governance and meaningful representation.
Davendranath is married and is the father of one.
His interests include Geopolitics, Mediation, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, and Table Tennis.