The Honourable Dr. Keith Christopher Rowley MP |
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8th Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago | |
Assumed office 9 September 2015 |
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President | Anthony Carmona |
Preceded by | Kamla Persad-Bissessar |
Leader of the Opposition | |
In office 4 June 2010 – 9 September 2015 |
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Prime Minister | Kamla Persad-Bissessar |
Preceded by | Kamla Persad-Bissessar |
Succeeded by | Kamla Persad-Bissessar |
Leader of the People's National Movement | |
Assumed office 26 May 2010 |
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Preceded by | Patrick Manning |
Member of Parliament for Diego Martin West |
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Assumed office 1991 |
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Preceded by | Margaret Olive Hector |
Majority | 8,710 (53%) |
Personal details | |
Born |
Mason Hall, Saint George, East Tobago, Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago |
24 October 1949
Political party | People's National Movement |
Spouse(s) | Sharon Rowley |
Alma mater | University of the West Indies |
The Hon. Dr. Keith Christopher Rowley MP (born 24 October 1949) is the current Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, in office since September 2015. 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. He is a volcanologist who obtained his doctorate in geology, specialising in geochemistry.
Rowley was a pupil of Bishop's High School, Tobago, and graduated from the University of the West Indies (Mona). He holds a graduate degree in geology, specializing in geochemistry. 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).
Following the People's National Movement's defeat in the 2010 general election, Rowley was appointed as Leader of the Opposition. 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.
Rowley led the People's National Movement to a victory in the September 2015 general election, in which 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, Rowley was sworn in as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago by President Anthony Carmona.