Jwala Rambarran, a 45-year-old economist of Indo-Bihari  origin in Trinadad and Tobago has been appointed as the next Governor of   Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago.
His Ancestors were  from Bihar  and they sailed for Trinadad  and Tobago, between 1845 and 1917 to work on the sugar and cocoa plantations from Calcutta.
Mr. Rambarran holds Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Economics and Mathematics form the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine Campus and a Masters of Science (Honours) in Financial Economics from the University of London. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Governors of The National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST).
Ramberran is also a graduate of the Executive and Financial Training Programme at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He was also trained at the IMF Institute and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. He has a master’s degree in economics. He earlier wantd to study medicine.
Ramberran is the second person of Indian origin to get the nod for this position, the first being Winston Dookeran, who was until last month the minister of finance in the two-year-old People’s Partnership government.
Dookeran served as governor of the Central Bank during the reign of Basdeo Panday during 1995-2001. Panday was the first man of Indian origin to serve as prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago since its independence in 1962. The country’s Central Bank became operational in 1964.
In making the announcement, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said Mr. Rambarran has the experience and qualifications to serve as Central Bank Governor.
“I am very pleased to announce that the Cabinet of the Republic has made the decision to appoint Mr. Jwala Rambarran, financial economist, as the Governor of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago. I am advised that Mr. Rambarran has over 20 years professional experience as an Economic Strategist and thought leader in consulting, in academia, in the private financial sector, with the IMF, and with the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago.”
Ramberran has pledged to maintain the independence of the Central Bank. Mr. Rambarran replaces Mr. Ewart Williams as Central Bank Governor. For his part, he said he is elated to be chosen as the new Governor and will be reporting for duty on Monday morning.
“Thank God, thank the Prime Minister and Cabinet for choosing me to be the next Central Bank Governor. The intention is to build on the work that was done by Governor Williams as we seek to strengthen monetary and financial stability in Trinidad and Tobago.”
He said given his knowledge and experience, he will work in the best interest of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
“I have worked in the Central Bank previously. I have represented the Government at the IMF. So I have a pretty strong understanding of how the T&T economy operates and how the financial sector has to contribute to economic growth and development.”