10 April 2026
TO: All Editors
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA RELEASE
CHAIRMAN, NEW MEMBERS APPOINTED TO THE INDUSTRIAL COURT OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
(from left) Their Honours Ms. Ashti Sookhan; Mr. Herbert Soverall, Vice-President; Mrs. Heather Seale, President; Mr. Melvin Daniel, Chairman of the Essential Services Division; Mr. Adrian Darmanie and the Registrar, Mr. Kevon Swan
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago: The Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago (Industrial Court) is pleased to announce the appointment of His Honour Mr. Melvin Daniel as the new Chairman of the Essential Services Division. Further strengthening the bench, the Court welcomes their Honours Mr. Adrian Darmanie and Ms. Ashti Sookhan as new Members appointed to the General Services Division of the Industrial Court.
His Honour Mr. Melvin Daniel brings over eleven (11) years of service as a Member of the Industrial Court to his new leadership role. Having previously presided within the General Services Division, His Honour will now lead the Essential Services Division, a role he is well qualified to fill. Prior to his appointment as a Member of the Industrial Court, Mr. Daniel amassed over thirty (30) years of legal experience within the jurisdiction of Trinidad and Tobago, serving in both the public and private sectors. His career includes tenure as a Magistrate within the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago, Senior State Counsel and State Prosecutor in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and as a private practitioner at T. Malcolm Milne and Company. He currently serves as an Associate Tutor at the Hugh Wooding Law School, a role he has held for over twelve (12) years.
His Honour Mr. Adrian Darmanie is an attorney-at-law for over thirty (34) years. He joins the Industrial Court following an extensive career in the Magistracy of the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago, serving as a Magistrate, Senior Magistrate and Acting Deputy Chief Magistrate. Prior to his tenure in the Magistracy, he served as State Counsel III within the Director of Public Prosecutions Department. He later joined the Ministry of the Attorney General as Senior State Counsel in the Solicitor General’s Department, where he provided legal advice to various Ministries, vetted government contracts and represented the Attorney General in significant civil and constitutional matters. His early professional years were spent in private practice where he gained foundation experience in civil litigation, drafting legal documents and serving as a legal advisor for the National Housing Authority.
Her Honour Ms. Ashti Sookhan is a legal professional with a multifaceted background in public sector law, policy development and institutional governance. Ms. Sookhan transitions to the Industrial Court Bench from the Ministry of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development, where she served as a Legal Officer representing the Ministry in complex matters before both the Industrial and High Courts. Her experience in labour relations and legislative reform is complemented by her role in drafting legal opinions and advising on critical policy matters. Her Honour holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of the West Indies and a Legal Education Certificate (LEC) from the Hugh Wooding Law School. Furthering her expertise, she earned a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Corporate and Commercial Law and an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) in General Management from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados.
The President and the Bench congratulate His Honour Mr. Daniel on his elevation and again extend a warm welcome to our two new Members. We look forward to their valuable contributions to the Industrial Court.
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