Keith Rowley

Keith Christopher Rowley (born 24 October 1949) is a Trinidadian and Tobagonian politician serving as the seventh and current prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, first elected into office on 9 September 2015 and again following the 2020 National General Elections. 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 by former profession, holding a doctorate in geology, specializing in geochemistry.
Career.
Rowley was a pupil of Bishop's High School, Tobago, and graduated from the University of the West Indies (Mona). He then went on to earn an MSc (1974) and a PhD (1978) from the University of the West Indies at St. Augustine 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).
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. 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 led the People's National Movement 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, and is credited for revival of the local natural gas sector and laying groundwork for further oil and gas exploration, the largest economic sector of Trinidad and Tobago. Rowley again led the People's National Movement to victory in the August 10th 2020 general elections for another term in government. He was sworn in as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago on 19 August by Her Excellency, President Paula-Mae Weekes at the President's House in St. Anns after the Opposition party asked for recounts to be done in marginal constituencies. He tested positive for COVID-19 in April 2021.