TRINIDAD-Founding member of cosmetics company sworn in as government minister.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC—Satyakama “Kama” Maharaj, the founding member of Sacha Cosmetics, was sworn in Wednesday as the Minister of Trade, Investment, and Tourism, bringing the number of Cabinet members of Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar’s new Trinidad and Tobago government to 25.

At a brief ceremony at President Christine Kangaloo’s official residence, Maharaj took the oath of office, joining his other colleagues who were sworn into office last Saturday. The United National Congress (UNC) led coalition of interests won 26 seats in the April 28 general election.

Also sworn into office, Phillip Edward Alexander, the leader of the Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP), who has been appointed a government senator and made a Minister in the Ministry of Housing,

The PEP was among the small opposition political parties that had joined the UNC to contest the elections.

Meanwhile, Trinibad artiste Bradlee Dhanaram, who made threats of violence against supporters of the People’s National Movement (PNM), has been placed on a two-year bond to keep the peace.

Dhanaram re-appeared before Siparia magistrate Gloria Jasmath on Wednesday for sentencing after pleading guilty on April 17 to making statements to influence public opinion in a manner likely to be prejudicial to public safety.

He was charged under Regulation 12(a) of the Emergency Powers Regulations, in accordance with Legal Notice No 240 issued under the State of Emergency (SoE) declared on December 30 last year.

Thre 35-year-old Dhanaram, also known as Yung Sai Don, appeared in a widely circulated video where he called on viewers to “tie strap” to prevent PNM supporters from voting in the April 28 general election.

Frank Gittens’s attorney said his client apologized in another social media video.

The magistrate placed Dhanaram on a TT$5,000 bond (One TT dollar = 0.16 cents) to keep the peace and be on good behavior for two years.