President Arthur N.R. Robinson

The President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Arthur Napoleon Raymond TC., OCC., SC, was elected to office on Friday 14th February, 1997 and sworn in as President on Tuesday 18th March, 1997. Mr Robinson was born in Calder Hall, Tobago on December 16, 1926. Mr Robinson earned a Cambridge Higher School Certificate while at the Bishop's High School, Tobago and later obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree as an external student of the University of London. He was called to the Bar of Inner Temple, England in 1951 and subsequently obtained a Master of Arts Degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from St John's College, Oxford.

Mr Robinson has had a long and distinguished political career. He was a founding member of the People's National Movement (PNM), the Democratic Action Congress (DAC) and the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR). Mr. Robinson represented Trinidad and Tobago in the Federal Parliament from 1958 to 1960 and was the first Minister of Finance of newly independent Trinidad and Tobago in 1961. He also served as Minister of External Affairs and acted as Attorney General. He was Chairman, Tobago House of Assembly from 1980 to 1986.

After the NAR won the 1986 General Elections, Mr Robinson assumed office as Prime Minister, a position he held until 1991. Mr Robinson has represented the constituency of Tobago East in the House of Representatives since 1961 and held the office of Minister Extraordinaire and Tobago Affairs as part of UNC/NAR coalition government from November 1995 up until his election as President.

Mr Robinson's political experience also extends to international matters. He has been involved in the establishment of the International Criminal Court since 1972 serving as Consultant and Executive Director of the Foundation. In 1977, he was the recipient of an International Criminal Law Award from the Foundation. Mr Robinson was a member of the United Nations Expert Group on Crime and the Abuse of Power in 1979.

Mr Robinson has written numerous articles and presented many speeches including "Mechanics of Independence." A selection of his articles and speeches for the period 1960 to 1986 has been published under the title "Caribbean Man" (1986).

Mr Robinson is married to the former Patricia Rawlins and they have two children.

From Left:
His Excellency President Arthur N.R.Robinson, wife Particia,
son David and daughter Margaret