Prime Minister Dr. Keith Christopher Rowley
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Christopher Rowley
Dr. Keith Christopher Rowley was born on October 24, 1949, in Mason Hall, Tobago, and was raised by his grandparents, who were prominent Tobago farmers. Dr. Rowley completed his secondary schooling at Bishop’s High School (BHS) Tobago. His sterling academic performance captured the prestigious Sylvan Bowles Scholarship at BHS. He then commenced his studies at the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica, from where he graduated with a BSc in geology (first class honours) and geography (first class honours); he also earned his MSc in volcanic stratigraphy at UWI, St. Augustine.
He is a volcanologist who obtained his doctorate in geology, specializing in geochemistry. He is a known nature lover, who enjoys gardening, hiking, and golfing.
As a research scientist, he held the positions of research fellow and later head of the Seismic Research Unit at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. He was also the general manager of state-owned National Quarries Company Limited.
He first ran for political office in 1981, where he contested the Tobago West seat. To date, Dr. Rowley has the distinction of being the only People’s National Movement (PNM) candidate to have contested a seat in a general election in both Tobago and Trinidad.
Dr. Rowley is the member of the House of Representatives for Diego Martin West in the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago, where he has represented that constituency since 1991 having been re-elected in 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2010, 2015, and 2020. Dr. Rowley first served in Parliament as an Opposition senator from 1987-1990. He later served at cabinet-level as minister of agriculture, lands and marine resources; minister of planning and development; minister of housing; minister of trade and industry; governor of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB); and Trinidad and Tobago’s representative governor of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Following the People’s National Movement’s defeat in the Trinidad and Tobago 2010 general election, Dr. Rowley was appointed leader of the Opposition of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and was elected political leader of the People’s National Movement in 2010. On September 7, 2015, Dr. Rowley led the People’s National Movement to general election victory to become the seventh prime minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Dr. Rowley was re-elected to serve as prime minister on August 10, 2020, after winning the 2020 general election.