Keith Rowley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Keith Rowley
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Rowley in 2024
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| 7th Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago | |
| Assumed office 9 September 2015 |
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| President | Anthony Carmona Paula-Mae Weekes Christine Kangaloo |
| Preceded by | Kamla Persad-Bissessar |
| 8th Leader of the Opposition of Trinidad and Tobago | |
| 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 |
| 4th 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 16 December 1991 |
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| Member of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago | |
| In office 1987–1990 |
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| Chairman of the Caribbean Community | |
| In office 1 January 2021 – 30 June 2021 |
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| Secretary-General | Irwin LaRocque |
| Preceded by | Ralph Gonsalves |
| Succeeded by | Gaston Browne |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Keith Christopher Rowley
24 October 1949 Mason Hall, Saint George, Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Political party | People's National Movement |
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| Alma mater | University of the West Indies |
Keith Christopher Rowley (born October 24, 1949) is a politician from Trinidad and Tobago. He is currently the country's seventh Prime Minister. He first took office on September 9, 2015, and was re-elected in 2020.
Mr. Rowley has been the leader of the People's National Movement (PNM) political party since May 2010. Before becoming Prime Minister, he served as the Leader of the Opposition from 2010 to 2015. He has also been a Member of Parliament for Diego Martin West since 1991. Before his political career, he was a volcanologist, which means he studied volcanoes and the Earth's geology.
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Early Life and Education
Keith Rowley was born in Mason Hall, Tobago. He was raised by his grandparents, who were well-known farmers in Tobago. He attended Bishop's High School in Tobago.
He later studied at the University of the West Indies (Mona campus) and earned a degree in Geology. He continued his studies at the University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, where he received his master's and PhD degrees in geology. His special area of study was geochemistry, which looks at the chemical makeup of the Earth. After his studies, he worked as a researcher at the Seismic Research Unit, which studies earthquakes.
Political Career
Mr. Rowley started his political journey in 1981. He first served in Parliament as an Opposition Senator from 1987 to 1990. Later, he held important government positions. These included Minister of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources, Minister of Planning and Development, Minister of Housing, and Minister of Trade and Industry.
Leader of the Opposition
After his party, the People's National Movement, lost the 2010 general election, Keith Rowley was chosen to be the Leader of the Opposition. This role means he was the main voice of the political parties not in power. He was also elected as the political leader of the People's National Movement. As leader, he worked to make the party's internal voting system fairer. He also served on several important parliamentary committees.
Prime Minister
Keith Rowley led the People's National Movement in the September 2015 general election. His party won 23 out of 41 seats in the House of Representatives, allowing them to form the government. On September 9, 2015, Mr. Rowley was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago by President Anthony Carmona. He became the seventh Prime Minister of the country and the second one born in Tobago.
He led his party to another victory in the 2020 general election, securing a second term as Prime Minister. He was sworn in on August 19, 2020, by President Paula-Mae Weekes.
During his time as Prime Minister, Mr. Rowley has made important decisions for the country. In August 2024, he announced his support for the Caribbean Court of Justice to become Trinidad and Tobago's final court for appeals, replacing the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. He also shared plans to change the national coat of arms. He wants to replace the ships of Christopher Columbus with the steelpan drum, which is the national music instrument. He said these changes would help remove symbols of the country's colonial past.
Personal Life
Keith Rowley is married to Sharon Rowley, who is a lawyer. They have three children together.
See also
In Spanish: Keith Rowley para niños
