Richie Sookhai | |
|---|---|
| Member of theSenate of Trinidad and Tobago | |
| In office 18 January 2023 – 28 April 2025 | |
| President | Christine Kangaloo Paula-Mae Weekes |
| Prime Minister | Keith Rowley |
| Preceded by | Christine Kangaloo |
| President of theChaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce | |
| In office 1 April 2021[1] – 18 January 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Vishnu Charran[2] |
| Succeeded by | Baldath Maharaj[3] |
| In office 2014[1]–2017[1] | |
| Preceded by | Zamanath "Billy" Ali[4] |
| Succeeded by | Vishnu Charran[2] |
| Deputy Chairman of InvesTT | |
| In office 2014[5]–2015[5] | |
| Managing Director of Sookhai's Diesel Services Limited | |
| Assumed office March 2001 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1979-03-07)7 March 1979 (age 46) |
| Party | People's National Movement |
| Alma mater | |
| Profession |
|
Richie G. Sookhai (born 7 March 1979)[6][7] is a Trinidadian and Tobagonian politician, engineer and businessman. He served as a senator as Minister in the Ministry of Works and Transport
He was the president of theChaguanasChamber of Industry and Commerce (CCIC) prior to becoming a Government Senator. He is also the managing director of Sookhai's Diesel Services Limited.[8]
He is a member of the rulingPeople's National Movement party and succeededChristine Kangaloo as a GovernmentSenator in January 2023, as she resigned to becomePresident. His focus during his second term as chamber president was on small and medium-sized enterprises, theeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and educating entrepreneurs and business owners ondigital media marketing.[1] Sookhai is ofIndo-Trinidadian descent. He was sworn in on theBhagavad Gita.[9] His maiden contribution in the Senate was The Firearms (Amendment) Bill, 2022.[10] His appointment to the Senate by the PNM party leader andPrime MinisterKeith Rowley was seen by political pundits as one of Rowley's best moves. They believe that Sookhai's popularity in Chaguanas, his family'sHindu religious roots there, and his clean track record will lead to Rowley selecting him as a candidate for the Chaguanas seat in theHouse in thenext general elections to defeat theUnited National Congress.[11][12] He obtained aBachelor of Science incomputer engineering fromFlorida International University College of Engineering and Computing in 2002 and he obtained hisMaster of International Business fromFlorida International University College of Business in 2020.[8] He describes himself as a devoutHindu, avegetarian, ateetotaler, a non-smoker, and an avid stamp and art collector.[13][9] He has never been married and has no children.[9]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNC | Vandana Mohit | 10,097 | 62.7% |  | |
| PNM | Richie Sookhai | 5,317 | 33.0% |  | |
| PF | Afifah Mohammed | 487 | 3.0% |  | |
| NTA | Norman Dindial | 125 | 0.8% | | |
| Independent | Ernesto Singh | 47 | 0.3% | | |
| Majority | 4,780 | 29.7% | |||
| Turnout | 16,110 | 58.10% | |||
| Registered electors | 27,728 | ||||
| UNChold | |||||