Keith Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Keith Claudius Mitchell (born November 12, 1946) is a Grenadian
politician who served as Prime Minister of Grenada from 1995 to 2008. He was the longest serving Prime Minister Grenada has ever had, serving just over 13 years as Prime Minister. He is currently the leader of the New National Party
(NNP) and the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
Mitchell is graduated from the University of the West Indies
with a Bachelor of Science
degree in mathematics and chemistry in 1971. He a gained a masters degree from Howard University
in 1975 and a doctorate
in mathematics and statistics from American University
in 1979. In the December 1984 general election, he was elected to a seat in the House of Representatives
from St. George North West constituency, and he has held the seat in each subsequent election. Mitchell was elected as leader of the NNP in January 1989, defeating Prime Minister Herbert Blaize
. Blaize then dismissed Mitchell from his position as Minister of Works and Communications on July 21, 1989.
After the NNP was victorious in the general election
held on June 20, 1995, winning eight out of 15 seats in the House of Representatives, Mitchell took office as Prime Minister, along with his Cabinet, on June 22. Under Mitchell's leadership, the party won all 15 seats in the early election held in January 1999
, and the NNP narrowly won a third term in power in the November 2003 election, reduced to a one seat parliamentary majority.
The New National Party was defeated in the general election
held on July 8, 2008 by the National Democratic Congress
(NDC), winning only four seats against 11 for the NDC. Mitchell himself was re-elected to his seat from St. George North West. NDC leader Tillman Thomas
succeeded Mitchell as Prime Minister on July 9. Mitchell said that the people voted for change and congratulated Thomas. Following the election, he continued as NNP leader and was sworn in as Leader of the Opposition on July 16, 2008.
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
politician who served as Prime Minister of Grenada from 1995 to 2008. He was the longest serving Prime Minister Grenada has ever had, serving just over 13 years as Prime Minister. He is currently the leader of the New National Party
New National Party (Grenada)
The New National Party is a conservative political party in Grenada. It is led by the Leader of the Opposition, Keith Mitchell.The party was founded in August 1984 through the merger of the Grenada National Party, led by Herbert Blaize, the National Democratic Party, led by George Brizan, and the...
(NNP) and the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
Mitchell is graduated from the University of the West Indies
University of the West Indies
The University of the West Indies , is an autonomous regional institution supported by and serving 17 English-speaking countries and territories in the Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica,...
with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in mathematics and chemistry in 1971. He a gained a masters degree from Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
in 1975 and a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in mathematics and statistics from American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
in 1979. In the December 1984 general election, he was elected to a seat in the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of Grenada
The House of Representatives is the lower house of the Parliament of Grenada. It has 15 members, elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies. The members are, for each seat and party, listed below:-Summary 2008 election:...
from St. George North West constituency, and he has held the seat in each subsequent election. Mitchell was elected as leader of the NNP in January 1989, defeating Prime Minister Herbert Blaize
Herbert Blaize
Herbert Augustus Blaize was a Grenadian politician and leader of the Grenada National Party. When Grenada was still a British Crown Colony he served as the first Chief Minister from 1960-61, and again, from 1962-67. He became the first Premier of the autonomous Associated State of Grenada briefly...
. Blaize then dismissed Mitchell from his position as Minister of Works and Communications on July 21, 1989.
After the NNP was victorious in the general election
Grenadian general election, 1995
General elections were held in Grenada on 20 June 1995. The result was a victory for the New National Party, which won eight of the 15 seats. Voter turnout was 61.7%.-Results:...
held on June 20, 1995, winning eight out of 15 seats in the House of Representatives, Mitchell took office as Prime Minister, along with his Cabinet, on June 22. Under Mitchell's leadership, the party won all 15 seats in the early election held in January 1999
Grenadian general election, 1999
General elections were held in Grenada on 18 January 1999. The governing New National Party of Prime Minister Keith Mitchell was re-elected after winning all 15 seats. Voter turnout was 56.5%.-Background:...
, and the NNP narrowly won a third term in power in the November 2003 election, reduced to a one seat parliamentary majority.
The New National Party was defeated in the general election
Grenadian general election, 2008
A general election was held in Grenada on 8 July 2008.Out of a total of fifteen seats, the opposition National Democratic Congress won eleven seats and the governing New National Party won four seats, thus bringing the NDC to power for the first time since 1995...
held on July 8, 2008 by the National Democratic Congress
National Democratic Congress (Grenada)
The National Democratic Congress is a liberal centre-left political party in Grenada. Tillman Thomas is the party's leader, Nazim Burke is its deputy leader, and Peter David is its General Secretary...
(NDC), winning only four seats against 11 for the NDC. Mitchell himself was re-elected to his seat from St. George North West. NDC leader Tillman Thomas
Tillman Thomas
Tillman Joseph Thomas is a Grenadian politician, currently serving as Prime Minister of Grenada. He is also the leader of the National Democratic Congress .-Biography:...
succeeded Mitchell as Prime Minister on July 9. Mitchell said that the people voted for change and congratulated Thomas. Following the election, he continued as NNP leader and was sworn in as Leader of the Opposition on July 16, 2008.