Keith Rowley

Honorable Dr. Keith Rowley MP
8th Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 September 2015
President	Anthony Carmona
Preceded by	Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Leader of the Opposition
In office 4 June 2010 – 9 September 2015
Prime Minister	Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Preceded by	Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Succeeded by	Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Leader of the People's National Movement
Incumbent
Assumed office 26 May 2010
Preceded by	Patrick Manning
Member of Parliament for Diego Martin West
Incumbent
Assumed office 1991
Preceded by	Margaret Olive Hector
Majority	8,710 (53%)
Personal details
Born	24 October 1949 Trinidad and Tobago
Political party	People's National Movement
Spouse(s)	Sharon Rowley
Alma mater	University of the West Indies
Religion	Christianity

Dr. Keith Christopher Rowley (born 24 October 1949) is the current Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, in office since September 2015.^[1] He has led the People's National Movement (PNM) since May 2010 and was Leader of the Opposition from 2010 to 2015. He has also served as the Member of the House of Representatives for Diego Martin West since 1991.^[2] He is a volcanologist who obtained his doctorate in geology, specialising in geochemistry.^[3]

Life and career

Rowley was a pupil of Bishop's High School, Tobago, and graduated from the University of the West Indies (Mona). He first served in Parliament as an Opposition Senator from 1987 to 1990 (3rd Parliament). Subsequently he was appointed as Minister of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources (4th Parliament), Minister of Planning and Development and Minister of Housing (8th Parliament) and Minister of Trade and Industry (9th Parliament).

Leader of the Opposition

Following the People's National Movement's defeat in the 2010 general election, Rowley was appointed as Leader of the Opposition.^[4] Rowley has served on several parliamentary committees. In 2004, he chaired the Joint Select Committee of Parliament which examined and made recommendations for the live broadcasting of parliamentary debates.

Prime Minister

Rowley lead the People's National Movement to a victory in the September 2015 general election after his party secured 23 out of 41 seats in the House of Representatives to form the government, defeating the previous People's Partnership coalition government. On 9 September 2015, Dr. Rowley was sworn in as Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago by President Anthony Carmona.^[5]

References

1. Linda Hutchinson-Jafar, "Trinidad's new prime minister, Keith Rowley, sworn in", Reuters Canada, 9 September 2015.
2. "Current Members of the House of Representatives > The Honourable Dr. Keith Rowley, MP". Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
3. "Political Leader - Dr. Keith Rowley", PNM.
4. Julien, Joel (1 July 2010). "Manning skips Rowley swearing-in". Trinidad Express Newspaper. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
5. "Rowley sworn in as T&T PM", Stabroek News, 9 September 2015.