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]

The Honourable Foster Cummings
Minister of Youth Development & National Service of Trinidad and Tobago
Incumbent
Assumed office 19 April 2021
Prime Minister	Keith Rowley
Preceded by	Fitzgerald Hinds
Minister in the Ministry of Works and Transport of Trinidad and Tobago
In office 19 August 2020 – 18 April 2021
Prime Minister	Keith Rowley
Member of the House of Representatives for La Horquetta/Talparo
Incumbent
Assumed office 10 August 2020
Preceded by	Maxie Cuffie
Majority	9,713 (55.0%)
Government Senator
In office 14 August 2019 – 31 December 2019
Prime Minister	Keith Rowley
General Secretary of the People's National Movement
Incumbent
Assumed office 30 September 2018
Preceded by	Ashton Ford
Government Senator
In office 23 September 2015 – 21 July 2019
Prime Minister	Keith Rowley
Opposition Senator (Temporary)
In office 18 June 2010 – 24 June 2014
Leader	Keith Rowley
Government Senator (Temporary)
In office 15 January 2008 – 6 April 2010
Prime Minister	Patrick Manning
Personal details
Born	1973 (age 50–51) Couva, Trinidad and Tobago
Political party	People'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 bachelor 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 the PNM to hold the position.^[3] He later served as the chairman of the La Horquetta/Talparo constituency. During his involvement with the PNM, Cummings has served as the party's national male youth officer, then a field officer, an election officer, and the current general secretary. He has been part of the PNM's General Council for thirty years.^[4]

On 15 January 2008, Cummings was appointed as a temporary Government Senator in the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago, 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] He was appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government on 1 January 2020.^[7][8]

Cummings 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. He 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". Trinidad and Tobago Parliament. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
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.