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Dr. the
Rt. Hon Keith
Claudius Mitchell |
Keith Claudius Mitchell son of Dowlyn
Mitchell and Catherine Mitchell, born in the tiny, picturesque west
coast village of Brizan on November 12th, 1946.
I attended Happy Hill R.C. School as well as the J.W. Fletcher
Memorial School. I attended Presentation Brothers College where I
excelled both athletically and academically, a trend that I have
sought to maintain throughout my life. I went on to study at the
University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, where I gained a
Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics and Chemistry (1969–1971),
followed by a Masters Degree in Mathematics from Howard University
(1973–1975) and a Doctorate in Mathematics and Statistics from the
American University (1975–1979).
Being an accomplished and avid cricketer I was a member of the
Grenada Cricket Team from 1964 – 1966. In 1973 I became the Captain
of the Grenada Cricket Team as well as the combined Windward and
Leeward Youth Cricket Team. On the academic side, I served as a
teacher at the Presentation Brothers College from 1972–1973 and then
as a Mathematics Professor at Howard University from 1977–1983. I
also worked as a professional consultant to several Government
Departments and private corporations in the United States before
returning to Grenada.
In 1984, I entered the political arena and was elected to the House
of Representatives as the Member of Parliament for St. George North
West, a seat that I've held ever since, giving me the distinction of
being the longest serving parliamentarian in Grenada. During the
period 1984 – 1989 I served in nine ministries including
Communications, Works and Public Utilities, Transportation, Civil
Aviation and Energy. In 1989 I was elected Political Leader of the
New National Party (NNP).
I was re-elected by the constituents of St. George North West in
1990, and served as an Opposition Member until 1995. I successfully
led the NNP to victory in 1995 and was first sworn in as Prime
Minister on June 22nd, 1995. During my term as Prime Minister I
served as Minister of National Security as well as nine other
Ministerial portfolios. My untiring hard work and dedication paid
off in the 1999 General Elections, when I led the NNP to an
unprecedented victory, winning all fifteen Constituencies and
becoming the first Prime Minister since Independence to win two
consecutive General Elections.
In my capacity as Prime Minister, I have not only added to the
development of Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique in terms of
implementing policies generating employment and fast-tracking
infrastructural development, but I have also added to the
advancement of the Caribbean Region. I have been responsible for
Science and Technology and Human Resource Development for the
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) since 1995. I served as Chairman of
the Ministerial Council of the Association of Caribbean States (1996
– 1997), Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Caribbean
Development Bank (1997 – 1998) and Chairman of CARICOM (1998). I
served as Chairman of the Regional Security System (RSS) (2001 –
2002) and I am also the longest serving Chairman of the Organization
of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) (2000 – 2002). |
