By Prior Beharry
PRIME Minister Dr Keith Rowley is to get an honorary doctorate from Howard University.
A statement on the university’s website listed Dr Rowley and five other people who are set to get their honorary PhD during the 155th Commencement Convocation on the main campus of Howard University’s Upper Quadrangle at 10 am on Saturday, May 13, 2023.
Honorary recipients include Congressman James E Clyburn; education benefactors Martha and Bruce A Karsh; health sciences trailblazer A Eugene Washington; and corporate director Benaree Pratt Wiley.
“Our 2023 honorees are among the leaders in their respective fields, in no small part due to their commitment to our collective humanity and building a better society for us all,” said Dr Wayne A I Frederick, president of Howard University.
Frederick received the Trinidad and Tobago’s highest award – the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ORTT) for the year 2020. Due to the pandemic, that ceremony took place last year.
Below is the full bio of Dr Rowley as posted on the Howard University website:
Keith Christopher Rowley, PhD, will be awarded the honorary Doctor of Letters. Rowley is the Prime Minister of Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
Rowley was born in 1949 in Mason Hall, Tobago, and was raised by his grandparents, who were prominent Tobago farmers. Rowley completed his secondary schooling at Bishop’s High School (BHS) in Tobago and his sterling academic performance saw him capture the prestigious Sylvan Bowles Scholarship.
He then commenced his studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, from where he graduated with a BSc in geology (first class honors) and geography (first class honors), and earned his MSc in volcanic stratigraphy from UWI, St Augustine.
He is a volcanologist who obtained his doctorate in geology, specializing in geochemistry. He is a known nature lover and 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. 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 multiple times.
He first served in Parliament as an opposition senator from 1987-1990. He later served at cabinet level holding, at various times, the portfolios. Following the People’s National Movement (PNM)’s defeat in the Trinidad and Tobago General Election, 2010, 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.
In 2015, Rowley led the People’s National Movement to general election victory, to become the seventh prime minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
Rowley was re-elected to serve as prime minister on August 10, 2020, after winning the 2020 general election.
