Richie Sookhai
Member of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago
Assumed office
18 January 2023
PresidentChristine Kangaloo
Paula-Mae Weekes
Prime MinisterKeith Rowley
Preceded byChristine Kangaloo
President of the Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce
In office
1 April 2021[1] – 18 January 2023
Preceded byVishnu Charran[2]
Succeeded byBaldath Maharaj[3]
In office
2014[1]–2017[1]
Preceded byZamanath "Billy" Ali[4]
Succeeded byVishnu 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
Trinidad and Tobago
NationalityTrinidadian and Tobagonian
Political partyPeople's National Movement
Alma mater
Profession
  • Politician
  • engineer
  • businessman

Richie G. Sookhai (born 7 March 1979)[6][7] is a Trinidadian and Tobagonian senator, Minister in the Ministry of Works and Transport, engineer and businessman.

He was the president of the Chaguanas Chamber 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 ruling People's National Movement party and succeeded Christine Kangaloo as a Government Senator in January 2023, as she resigned to become President. His focus during his second term as chamber president was on small and medium-sized enterprises, the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and educating entrepreneurs and business owners on digital media marketing.[1] Sookhai is of Indo-Trinidadian descent. He was sworn in on the Bhagavad Gita.[9] His maiden contribution in the Senate was The Firearms (Amendment) Bill, 2022.[10] His appointment to the Senate by PNM party leader and Prime Minister Keith Rowley was seen by political pundits as one of Rowley's best moves. They believe that Sookhai's popularity in Chaguanas, his family's Hindu religious roots there, and his clean track record will lead to Rowley selecting him as a candidate for one of the two Chaguanas seats in the House in the next general elections to help defeat the United National Congress in their most solid constituencies.[11][12] He obtained a Bachelor of Science in computer engineering from Florida International University College of Engineering and Computing in 2002 and he obtained his Master of International Business from Florida International University College of Business in 2020.[8] He describes himself as a devout Hindu, a vegetarian, a teetotaler, a non-smoker, and an avid stamp and art collector.[13][9] He has never been married and has no children.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Richie Sookhai elected new Chaguanas Chamber president".
  2. 1 2 "New Chamber Head Wants to Bring Change to Chaguanas". 5 April 2021.
  3. ↑ "Chaguanas chamber congratulates Sookhai on senatorial appointment - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday". 18 January 2023.
  4. ↑ "Who's Who in Trinidad & Tobago Business 2013 by Prestige Business Publications LTD. - Issuu".
  5. 1 2 "[UPDATED] Former Chaguanas chamber head takes oath as new government senator - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday". 18 January 2023.
  6. ↑ "Richie G Sookhai, Miami Public Records Instantly".
  7. ↑ "Richie G Sookhai from Miami, FL". nuwber.com. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  8. 1 2 "Richie Sookhai replaces Kangaloo as PNM senator".
  9. 1 2 3 "Sookhai: I am willing to serve".
  10. ↑ "Richie Sookhai – Parliament". ttparliament.org. 2023-04-14. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  11. ↑ "Richie Sookhai will be heading towards one of the Chaguanas seats next GE | Sunshine TodayTT".
  12. ↑ "John: Sookai joining the PNM no concern to UNC".
  13. ↑ "Richie Sookhai not ruling out electoral politics - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday". 22 January 2023.
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