PROGRESSIVE Empowerment Party (PEP) leader Phillip Edward Alexander – who was defeated by the PNM's Stuart Young for the Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West seat in the general elections – emerged a winner still as he was picked as Minister in the Ministry of Housing by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

PEP is one of several political entities which aligned with the UNC to fight the PNM in the April 28 elections.

He and Sacha Cosmetics founder Satykama "Kama" Maharaj were the final selections in Persad-Bissessar's government and were both sworn in on Wednesday May 7, at President's House.