MINISTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

BIOGRAPHY

SENATOR THE HONOURABLE ALLYSON WEST

Senator Allyson West

Senator the Honourable Allyson West

Portfolio: Minister of Public Administration, Trinidad and Tobago (T&T)

Senator the Honourable Allyson West was appointed a Senator and Minister of Public Administration (the then Ministry of Public Administration and Digital Transformation) on August 19, 2020. Prior to this, she was appointed as Minister in the Ministry of Finance on June 30th 2017.

A proponent of the transformation of the Public Service, the Senator is intent on the delivery of the MPA’s Strategic Plan (2023-2025). This plan focuses on partnering with stakeholders to modernise government services through e-human resource management, public service training and the development of technologically-driven accommodation solutions. Currently the Chair of the Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) Council, Senator West was also elected Vice-President of the General Conference of Ministers of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) in 2020.

A former Partner and Territory Tax Leader in the Tax and Corporate Services Department of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), Trinidad and Tobago, Senator West brings a wealth of experience and expertise in taxation policy, supporting regulatory framework and legislation. A senior member of the Law Association of (T&T), Senator West was involved in providing a full range of taxation advice and assistance to clients of PWC and was an integral part of many multi-disciplinary teams engaged in tax planning, structuring and advising on various financing transactions and corporate restructurings. She successfully represented clients in discussions with taxation authorities throughout the region on various tax issues, made presentations to Judges of the Supreme Court of T&T, members of the legal profession, various business organisations, and members of the public on a wide range of topics.

Senator West served as a Senior State Counsel at the Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) from 1986 – 1994 and was responsible for advising the BIR on taxation, legal and regulatory issues. During her employment at the BIR, the Senator gained extensive experience in the definition and implementation of taxation policies and supporting regulatory frameworks for the Government of T&T.

She was the legal representative on the team established by the Government in 1989 to implement a Value Added Tax system in T&T and in that role assisted in formulating policy, liaising with the legal draftsman to ensure the accurate translation of policy into legislation.

Senator West also served as a member of T&T’s Permanent Double Taxation and Negotiating Teams for the conclusion of Double Taxation Treaties and represented the Government of T&T and the Board of Inland Revenue in contract negotiations and at numerous regional and international conferences. A recent speaking engagement was at a plenary session of the Public-Private-Partnership Americas 2023 conference in Panama. Senator West was also Chair of the Cabinet Sub Committee responsible for implementing an improved operation of the Port of Port of Spain through a Public Private Partnership.

Learn More at: www.mpa.gov.tt

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