Our Executive Team

Permanent Secretary Ms. Desdra Bascombe

Ms. Desdra Bascombe gained her Bachelor’s degree in History and Social Sciences at the University of the West Indies (U.W.I), St Augustine Campus. After which, she attained a Master’s degree in Sociology at the same campus followed by an MBA at U.W.I. Mona campus three years after.

She began her career at the Service Commissions Department where she functioned in various human resources roles for 15 years culminating in the position of Senior Human Resources Officer. She left the Service Commissions Department to take  up the mantle of Director of Public Management at the Ministry of Public Administration and Information. Ms. Bascombe functioned in this role from 2003 to 2007 while also furthering her skills in various short courses ranging from Project Management in Government; Human Resources Development Administration; Process Improvement; and Measurement and Strategies to name a few.

From 2007 Ms. Bascombe assumed the role of Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Security then Acting Permanent Secretary. She moved on to the Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism in 2012 as Acting Permanent Secretary followed by the Office of the Prime Minister in the same role in 2014.

In late 2014 she was appointed as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Food Production and then in September 2015 was reassigned to her current position of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government.

Ms. Bascombe is an avid lover of the arts and particularly enjoys pan and parang. Christmas is the highlight of her year as she expresses her musical passion through performances with Los Paranderos de UWI.

 

Deputy Permanent Secretary Ms. Annalean Inniss

 

Ms. Annalean Inniss was appointed to the role of Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government on February 1st, 2023. Ms Inniss initially joined the Ministry in 2006 and during her tenure played a pivotal role in driving the Ministry’s Legislative Agenda, with specific focus on the implementation of Local Government Reform and other key policy initiatives, programmes and projects of the Ministry. With over 24 years’ experience in the legal profession, and having spent more than 13 years in Senior Legal positions within the Ministry Local Government, Ms. Inniss has considerable experience in policy and strategy development and the implementation and monitoring of projects.

In addition to her legal experience, Ms. Inniss has a wealth of knowledge in Business Administration, Project Management, Procurement and Human Resource Management and she currently serves on the Board of several state enterprises across the telecommunications, financial, land administration, food and cultural sectors. While her academic and legal acumen is a highlight, she is also an avid sports enthusiast.

Annalean Inniss is the holder of a Legal Education Certificate from Hugh Wooding Law School, St. Augustine.  She also holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree (Hons) from the University of the West Indies and an Executive Master’s of Business Administration (EMBA) from the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business. Ms Inniss is also a professional member of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago

Deputy Permanent Secretary Mr. Peter E. Mitchell

 

DPS Mitchell joined the Executive team of RDLG on January 11, 2023 and is a seasoned public servant since August 1993, possessing a BSc in Economics and a Master’s in Regulation and Policy (Telecommunications) from the University of the West Indies.

He has served briefly as a Director in the Investment Division of The Ministry of Finance and almost 12 years in senior positions in The Ministry of Planning and Development. He has held senior portfolios in other Ministries such as Public Administration, Information and Communication Technology, Science, Technology and Tertiary Education as well as the Office of The Prime Minister.

Mr. Mitchell brings with him a wealth of experience in representing the Government of Trinidad and Tobago at regional and international levels. He was this country’s capital-based representative on the United Nations General Assembly Open Working Group that prepared the UN Sustainable Development Goals.