Secretary of Finance, Trade and the Economy

Joel Jack is the Deputy Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) with responsibility for Finance and the Economy. He was first appointed Secretary of Finance and Enterprise Development in the THA in 2013, and was the youngest person ever to hold this prestigious role. Since his assumption, Assemblyman Jack has solidified several strategic partnerships with the business and international communities and instituted mechanisms for strengthening the island’s entrepreneurial landscape while diversifying the economy.

Mr. Jack’s work in the Division of Finance started well before his political appointment. He was the Programme Coordinator in the Financial Literacy Secretariat and also the Director of Enterprise Development facilitating the restructuring of the Enterprise Development Department. As such, he is well aware of the day-to-day operational and administrative functioning of the Division and is well able to draft and recommend policies required to ensure the Division of Finance and the Economy remains a high performance Division.

Since 2013, Assemblyman Jack has taken up the mantle, delivering strategic budget presentations that have kept the Tobago economy soundly on track to support and deliver on the strategic plans on the People’s National Movement (PNM) THA administration. Under his leadership, the Division of Finance and Enterprise Development initiated the movement to adopt the International Public Sector Accounting Standards. Assemblyman Jack has also led and represented Tobago on several international missions: the annual IMF/World Bank Meetings; and International Investment Missions to Washington, New York, Miami and Canada. He has also championed the Assembly’s Public Private Partnership modality.

A past student of the Signal Hill Secondary School, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Accounting at St. George’s University in Grenada. He then went on to acquire a Certificate in Cost Management Accounting and is currently seeking to qualify as a Certified Management Accountant.

He has worked tirelessly to help develop best practices for the small and medium sized enterprise sector to ensure Tobagonian small businesses survive and thrive. Under his direction the Division of Finance and Enterprise Development has implemented a variety of activities targeting the elderly, the disabled and young entrepreneurs as well as programmes positively impacting the fishing, agricultural, technology and micro enterprise sectors.

Previously, the Division of Finance also encompassed responsibility for Enterprise Development during which time Assemblyman Jack ensured that entrepreneurs and small business owners not only acquired the finances required to open and expand their operations, but also ensured they received the training and financial education needed to successfully manage and operate their businesses. Loans and Grants distributed to entrepreneurs and small businesses under Assemblyman Jack’s portfolio totaled over $TT7.6M, with 250 beneficiaries.

Assemblyman Jack is committed to the development of Tobago and continues to serve the people of Tobago with fervor and excellence.