Profiles: Heroes, Role Models and Pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago - by Nasser Khan

12 to become the country’s third Prime Minister in 1986, Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson served with distinction, charisma and a clear vision for the future of Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. It was not surprising therefore that in 1997 to cap off this brilliant political career in service of the people of Trinidad and Tobago, he was elected T&T’s third President. His academic résumé is most impressive stemming from his boy hood days in Tobago at Castara Methodist School and later as a double scholarship winner at Bishop’s High School. He then enrolled at London University for his Bachelor of Laws degree followed by admission to the Inner Temple and passing the final Bar examinations in 1953. In that year he was admitted to St. John’s College, Oxford, where he obtained a Degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. He then returned home to practice as a Barrister-at-Law from 1955 to 1961. His political résumé is also impressive. Between 1956 and 1970, he served in the hierarchy of the newly formed political party The People’s National Movement (PNM) that rose to become the ruling party and was elected to the Federal Parliament in 1958 and to the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament as representative for Tobago in 1961. He was the first Minister of Finance after Independence in 1962, and was responsible for the restructuring of the country’s financial institutions and the reform of financial and monetary policy. Later on he became Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of External Affairs. In 1971 he split ranks from the PNM over its Tobago policies and led the struggle for decentralisation of authority to Tobago. From then to 1985 he became the leader of the Tobago based Democratic Action Congress (DAC). He was the first Chairman of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and a founding member of the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) which he led from 1986-1997 and as its leader was elected Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1986 to December 1991. As Prime Minister, Robinson was responsible for several regional initiatives, including the Caribbean Regional Economic Conference, the proposed Caribbean Court of Appeal and the West Indian Commission. As the Minister of Finance and as Prime Minister he implemented economic and financial measures which had a positive impact on the country’s economy after a period of decline. Many regional and international awards and accolades have been conferred on him. In 1987 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honour from California Lutheran University. He has also been awarded a Knighthood of Honour and of Merit by an Ecumenical Foundation of the Knights of St. John for “exceptional achievements and unselfish support of humanity.” He is a Freeman of the cities of Los Angeles