Military man takes charge of National Security

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has followed the tradition of former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday in selecting a military officer to head the Ministry of National Security.

Retired Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier John Sandy will hold the post in the cabinet. In 1995, Panday gave former Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Joseph Theodore the national security portfolio.

Sandy, 63, retired from the military in 2002 after 36 years in the Regiment. In his new job Sandy will have to tackle head on the issue that was the number one concern raised by the People's Partnership in the general election.

Sandy was Chief of Defence Staff between 2001 and 2002.

On November 7, 2002, he was one of six persons who received the General Service Medal from then President, Arthur NR Robinson for the role he played in putting down the 1990 attempted coup by the Jamaat al Muslimeen.

Sandy has been the chief security officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) and was also a member of the disciplinary committee of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB).