Mrs. Vernella Alleyne-Toppin was first elected to the House of Representatives on Monday May 24, 2010, as the Member for Tobago East. She was appointed Minister of Tobago Development on May 28, 2010.

Mrs. Alleyne-Toppin received her Teacher’s Diploma from Mausica Teachers College and completed a Bachelors of Arts degree in English and Creative Arts from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. She then completed a Masters of Arts degree in Museology/Ethnomusicology and Art History at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. She has taught at the primary and secondary school levels in Trinidad and Tobago, and has lectured at the University of the West Indies and the University of Auckland in Critical Reading, Writing and Film Studies, English, Multicultural Studies and Art History. Mrs. Alleyne-Toppin has taught Dance and Performing Arts in New York, and has also worked as a Communications Specialist at the Division of Tourism, Tobago House of Assembly. Most recently, Mrs. Alleyne-Toppin lectured at the University of Trinidad and Tobago in the areas of Music, Anthropology, Sociology and Social Studies.

Mrs. Alleyne-Toppin is a well respected author and scriptwriter, auteur and motivational speaker. In addition, she has worked on various Tobago Heritage Festival productions and is the Musical Director of the Roxborough Folk Performers.

Mrs. Alleyne-Toppin is married with two children. 

adapted from www.toptobago.com

Maiden Contribution

The House of Representatives - Wednesday September 15, 2010 - link
The Appropriation (Financial Year 2011) Bill, 2010 - link