Foster Cummings

Foster Cummings (born in 1973) is a Trinidad and Tobago politician representing the People's National Movement. He has served as a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for La Horquetta/Talparo since the 2020 general election. He is the current Minister of Youth Development and National Service and General Secretary for the People's National Movement.[1][2]

Foster Cummings
Minister of Youth Development & National Service of Trinidad and Tobago
Assumed office
19 April 2021
Prime MinisterKeith Rowley
Preceded byFitzgerald Hinds
Minister in the Ministry of Works and Transport of Trinidad and Tobago
In office
19 August 2020  18 April 2021
Prime MinisterKeith Rowley
Member of the House of Representatives
for La Horquetta/Talparo
Assumed office
10 August 2020
Preceded byMaxie Cuffie
Majority9,713 (55.0%)
Government Senator
In office
14 August 2019  31 December 2019
Prime MinisterKeith Rowley
General Secretary of the People's National Movement
Assumed office
30 September 2018
Preceded byAshton Ford
Government Senator
In office
23 September 2015  21 July 2019
Prime MinisterKeith Rowley
Opposition Senator (Temporary)
In office
18 June 2010  24 June 2014
LeaderKeith Rowley
Government Senator (Temporary)
In office
15 January 2008  6 April 2010
Prime MinisterPatrick Manning
Personal details
Born1973 (age 4950)
Couva, Trinidad and Tobago
NationalityTrinidadian and Tobagonian
Political partyPeople's National Movement (1989-present)

Early life

Cummings was born in 1973 and grew up in Indian Trail, Couva. His father is a cane-cutter and his mother is a market vendor. From a young age, Cummings helped his mother sell provisions at the market in Couva. He attended the Tortuga RC, Milton Presbyterian, Couva Junior Secondary and Carapichaima Senior Comprehensive schools.[3] He attended the Cipriani College of Labour and Co-operative Studies, receiving an associate degree in co-operative studies. He then received a bachelors of science in political science and government from the University of the West Indies at St. Augustine.[1]

Cummings began his business career in 1998 and became involved in multiple retail businesses, as well as focusing on the construction and real estate development industries.[3] He is a founding member of the Heliconia Foundation for Young Professionals. He has also worked as a commissioner for the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago and as a Cooperative Officer at the Ministry of Labour and Cooperatives.[4][5]

Political career

Cummings first joined the Couva South Youth League for the People's National Movement (PNM) in 1989 when he was sixteen. He then became the chairman of the Couva South constituency when he was nineteen, the youngest member of PNM to hold the position.[3] He later served as the chairman of the La Horquetta/Talparo constituency. Throughout his involvement with the party, Cummings has served as the PNM's national male youth officer and then a field officer, an election officer, and is the current general secretary. He has been part of the PNM's General Council for thirty years.[4]

Cummings was first appointed as a temporary Government Senator in the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago on 15 January 2008, a position that he held until 6 April 2010. He then served as a temporary Opposition Senator from 18 June 2010 until 24 June 2014 when the People's Partnership coalition took control of Parliament in the 2010 general election. He was made a permanent Government Senator from 23 September 2015 to 31 December 2019.[1][6] While a senator, he served on the Public Accounts (Enterprises) Committee, the Government Assurances Committees, the Committee on State Enterprises, and the Public Administration and Appropriation Committee.[4] Cummings was appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government on 1 January 2020.[7][8]

He was first elected to the House of Representatives on 10 August 2010, following the 2020 general election where he ran as the PNM candidate for the constituency of La Horquetta/Talparo. Cummings was appointed Minister of Works and Transport on 19 August 2020 and then reassigned to be Minister of Youth Development and National Service on 19 April 2021.[1]

Personal life

Cummings is married and has six daughters and a son. He is a Spiritual Baptist.[3]

References

  1. "The Honourable Foster Cummings, MP". Trinidad and Tobago Parliament. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  2. Parsanlal, Nneka (23 July 2020). "PNM Fosters hope in La Horquetta/Talparo". Loop News. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  3. Taitt, Ria (27 July 2020). "Unfazed by Jearlean". Trinidad Express. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  4. "The Honourable Foster Cummings, MP". Ministry of Youth Development and National Service. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  5. "Mr. Foster Cummings". People's National Movement. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  6. "The Honourable Foster Cummings". Trinidad and Tobago Government News. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  7. Parsanlal, Nneka (31 December 2019). "Gov't announces cabinet reshuffle: PM new Planning Minister". Loop News. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  8. "Cummings sworn in as Parliamentary Secretary, says he's ready to work". Loop News. 2 January 2020. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
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