The Honourable Colm Imbert, MP - Biography
On April 28, 2025, Mr. Colm Imbert was re-elected for the 10th time to the House of Representatives of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago as the People’s National Movement (PNM) Member for Diego Martin North/East.
As of May 2025, he has served as an elected PNM Member of Parliament for over 33 continuous years and as a Cabinet Minister in 6 PNM Governments for an aggregate of over 22 years. Mr Imbert has also served as Vice Chairman of the PNM from 2014 to 2018, Chairman of the PNM from 2018 to 2022 and Deputy Political Leader of the PNM from 2022 to 2025
Immediately following graduation, with Honours, from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine campus in 1979 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, he worked on a number of projects within the Caribbean Region as a Consulting Civil Engineer.
While developing his practice and gaining experience he successfully pursued a Master’s Degree in Maritime Civil Engineering from the University of Manchester, England in 1982 and was formally registered as an Engineer in Trinidad and Tobago in 1986. He also achieved Chartered Engineering Status in the UK in 1984.
Mr. Imbert then transitioned into the academic world and lectured in the postgraduate Construction Engineering and Management Programme at the St. Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies from 1985 to 1991.
He also worked as a specialist consultant from 1990 to 1991 for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on Sea Defences for the Government of Guyana, where he redesigned Guyana’s 300-mile-long sea wall.
In 1991, Mr. Imbert entered public life as a Member of Parliament, winning the Diego Martin East seat for the PNM (now Diego Martin North/East) and was appointed a Cabinet Minister with responsibility for both the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Ministry Local Government, until 1995 when he became a member of the Opposition.
During the period 1995 to 2001, he was elected for his 2nd and 3rd terms an MP and served in the Opposition. While ensuring that his seat remained firmly PNM during that difficult period and serving his constituents, Mr. Imbert focused on the application of his knowledge and skills in Engineering as a Property Developer and Project Manager throughout the Caribbean Region.
During his 4th, 5th and 6th terms as a Member of Parliament, from 2001 to 2010, he served as Minister of Health from 2001-2003 and Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education from 2003-2005 until he again was given responsibility for the portfolio of the Ministry of Works and Transport in 2005. After the General Election of 2007, Mr. Imbert was given the additional responsibility of Leader of the House and continued to build on his past performance as Minister of Works and Transport in development of the country’s infrastructure from 2007-2010. In 2010, in his 7th term as an MP, he went into Opposition for the 3rd time, where he served as the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament.
In September 2015, when the PNM once again regained the Government, Mr. Imbert was appointed Minister of Finance, returning as an MP for the 8th time and a Cabinet Minister for the 5th time. In 2020, he was re-elected as an MP for the 9th time and reappointed as Minister of Finance for his 6th stint as a Cabinet Minister. During his political career, he has been responsible for initiating many innovative programmes, such as the Government Assistance for Tertiary Expenses (GATE - a free university education facility) the Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP - a free medication programme for the indigent and elderly), the establishment of the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), as well as the introduction of fast ferries and water taxis, interchanges, overpasses and a national highway network, as well as many other signature projects, such as the US$3 billion Clico Recovery and the National Investment Fund (NIF), among many others. As Minister of Finance over the period 2015-2015, he is credited with stabilising the Trinidad and Tobago economy under very difficult economic circumstances, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, without any assistance from the IMF, and putting it on a sustained growth path.
He has also expanded his knowledge base from engineering into law, taxation and finance. In 2007, he attained a Master of Laws Degree in Construction Law and Arbitration with Distinction, and in 2016, he attained his third Master's Degree, this time in Oil and Gas Law, again with Distinction, with a specialisation in Fiscal Regimes and Oil Taxation. Both of his specialised law degrees are from the Aberdeen Business School. In 2025, he attained his fourth Master’s Degree, an MSc Finance, with a specialisation in Economic Policy, from SOAS University of London, with Merit
During his 33-year career in Parliament, he has contributed to over one thousand debates, introduced hundreds of bills, and served on numerous Parliamentary Committees. His Cabinet experience spans the periods 1991-1995, 2001-2002, 2002-2007, 2007-2010, 2015-2020 and 2020-2025 (to date), with three stints in Opposition from 1995-2000, 2000-2001 and 2010-2015.
As Minister of Finance, he presented 10 consecutive national budgets and acted as Prime Minister on over 60 occasions. In March 2025, Mr. Imbert was appointed Minister of Public Utilities and on May 1, 2025, after a General Election, which his party lost, he went into the Opposition as an MP, for the fourth time.
