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Profiles ofCommonwealthHeads of GovernmentCommonwealthHeads of Government Meeting

Port of SpainTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO27-29 November 2009

CHOGM2009TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

Profiles of CommonwealthHeads of Government

CONTENTS

Antigua and Barbuda/The Hon Winston Baldwin Spencer 4

Australia/The Hon Kevin Michael Rudd 5

The Bahamas/The Rt Hon Hubert Alexander Ingraham 6

Bangladesh/The Hon Sheikh Hasina 7

Barbados/The Hon David John Howard Thompson 8

Belize/The Hon Dean Barrow 9

Botswana/HE Mr Seretse Khama Ian Khama 10

Brunei Darussalam/HM Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal

Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah 11

Cameroon/HE Mr Paul Biya 12

Canada/The Rt Hon Stephen Harper 13

Cyprus/HE Mr Demetris Christofias 14

Dominica/The Hon Roosevelt Skerrit 15

The Gambia/HE Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya A J J Jammeh 16

Ghana/HE Professor John Evans Atta Mills 17

Grenada/The Hon Tillman Thomas 18

Guyana/HE Mr Bharrat Jagdeo 19

India/The Hon Dr Manmohan Singh 20

Jamaica/The Hon Orette Bruce Golding 21

Kenya/HE Mr Mwai Kibaki 22

Kiribati/HE Mr Anote Tong 23

Lesotho/The Rt Hon Bethuel Pakalitha Mosisili 24

Malawi/HE Dr Bingu wa Mutharika 25

Malaysia/The Hon Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak 26

Maldives/HE Mr Mohamed Nasheed 27

Malta/The Hon Dr Lawrence Gonzi 28

Mauritius/The Hon Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam 29

Mozambique/HE Mr Armando Emilio Guebuza 30

Fiji Islands was fully suspended from membership of the Commonwealth on 1 September 2009pending restoration of a democratically elected government.

Nauru is a member in arrears and does not attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Namibia/HE Mr Hifikepunye Pohamba 31

New Zealand/The Hon John Key 32

Nigeria/HE Mr Umaru Musa Yar’Adua 33

Pakistan/The Hon Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani 34

Papua New Guinea/The Rt Hon Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare 35

St Kitts and Nevis/The Hon Dr Denzil Llewellyn Douglas 36

St Lucia/The Hon Stephenson King 37

St Vincent and the Grenadines/The Hon Dr Ralph Everard Gonsalves 38

Samoa/The Hon Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sa’ilele Malielegaoi 39

Seychelles/HE Mr James Alix Michel 40

Sierra Leone/HE Mr Ernest Bai Koroma 41

Singapore/The Hon Lee Hsien Loong 42

Solomon Islands/The Hon Dr David Derek Sikua 43

South Africa/HE Mr Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma 44

Sri Lanka/HE Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa 45

Swaziland/The Hon Dr Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini 46

Tonga/The Hon Dr Feleti Vaka’uta Sevele 47

Trinidad and Tobago/The Hon Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning 48

Tuvalu/The Hon Apisai Ielemia 49

Uganda/HE Mr Yoweri Kaguta Museveni 50

United Kingdom/The Rt Hon Gordon Brown 51

United Republic of Tanzania/HE Mr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete 52

Vanuatu/The Hon Edward Nipake Natapei 53

Zambia/HE Mr Rupiah Bwezani banda 54

CHOGM2009Trinidad & Tobago

ANTIGUA and BARBUDA

The Hon Winston Baldwin SpencerPRIME MINISTER

The Hon Winston Baldwin Spencer, Leader of the United ProgressiveParty, was re-elected to a second term in office as Prime Minister ofAntigua and Barbuda following victory at the 12 March 2009 generalelection. Mr Spencer began his first term in office in March 2004. He isconcurrently Minister of Labour. Before becoming prime minister,Mr Spencer served in the House of Representatives for more than15 years as Leader of the Opposition.

Mr Spencer was Chairperson of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)from 2008 to 2009. He has also served as Chair of the Organisation ofEastern Caribbean States and also sat as Co-Chairperson of the SummitMeeting between the European Union, Latin America and theCaribbean in Mexico in 2004. He chaired one of four Round Tables ofHeads of State and Government at the World Summit 2005, at theUnited Nations General Assembly.

Mr Spencer, Chair of the Group of 77 developing countries at the UN inSeptember 2008, was honoured with the 2008 MillenniumDevelopment Goals Achievement Award for his commitment andcontributions to promoting and strengthening partnerships betweenthe United Nations and the private sector in achieving global anti-poverty goals.

Mr Spencer began his political career in 1989 when he was elected toparliament as a United National Democratic Party representative of StJohn’s Rural West constituency.

Mr Spencer has a diploma in social leadership from the CoadyInternational Institute, Canada; in labour and economic studies fromRuskin College, Oxford University; and in labour and industrial relationsfrom Oslo University, Norway.

Mr Spencer was born on 8 October 1948.

COMMONWEALTHMEMBERSHIP:1981

INDEPENDENCEDAY:1 November 1981

CAPITAL:St John’s

LAND AREA:440 sq km

POPULATION:90,000

GDP GROWTH:2.5% p.a.

GNI PER CAPITA:US$13,620

CURRENCY:Eastern Caribbeandollar

ECONOMY:Manufacturing andtoursim

STATUS:Constitutionalmonarchy under HMQueen Elizabeth II

Website: www.ab.gov.ag

AUSTRALIA

The Hon Kevin Michael RuddPRIME MINISTER

The Hon Kevin Michael Rudd was sworn into office as Prime Minister ofAustralia on 3 December 2007 following his victory at the generalelection held on 24 November.

Mr Rudd has been the leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) sinceDecember 2006. He first joined the ALP at the age of 15 in 1972. MrRudd was appointed to Labor’s Shadow Cabinet in 2001 and wasShadow Minister for Foreign Affairs until 2005. Mr Rudd has been aMember of Parliament representing Griffith since 1998, when he firstserved as Chair of the Parliamentary Labor Party’s Committee onNational Security and Trade.

Before entering politics, Mr Rudd was a consultant with KPMG Australiafrom 1996 to 1998. He had previously served as Director-General of theCabinet Office of the Queensland State Government from 1992 to 1995.Prior to that, Mr Rudd was Chief of Staff in the Office of the QueenslandPremier Wayne Goss from 1989 to 1992. Earlier on in 1988, Mr Ruddalso held the post of Chief of Staff in Mr Goss’s office when he was thenthe Queensland State Opposition Leader.

Mr Rudd attained the post of Assistant Secretary in the Policy PlanningBureau of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in 1988after rising through the ranks since embarking on a diplomatic careerin 1981 where he went on to serve in the Australian Embassies inStockholm, Sweden, and Beijing, China.

Mr Rudd has a BA (Hons, 1st class) in Asian Studies from the AustralianNational University, Canberra, majoring in Chinese language andhistory. He has written extensively on Chinese politics and foreignpolicy, as well as on Australia-Asia relations and globalisation. Hespeaks fluent Mandarin.

Mr Rudd was born on 21 September 1957 in Nambour, Queensland.

NATIONAL DAY:26 January

CAPITAL:Canberra

LAND AREA:7.7 million sq km

POPULATION:22 million

CURRENCY:Australian dollar

ECONOMY:Agriculture, mining,livestock farming andtourism

Website: www.pm.gov.au

INDEPENDENCEDAY:10 July 1973

CAPITAL:Nassau

LAND AREA:13,880 sq km

POPULATION:340,000

GDP GROWTH:1% p.a.

CURRENCY:Bahamian dollar

ECONOMY:Fisheries,pharmaceuticals,refined petroleumand tourism

THE BAHAMAS

The Rt Hon Hubert Alexander IngrahamPRIME MINISTER

The Rt Hon Hubert Alexander Ingraham was sworn in as the fourthPrime Minister of The Bahamas on 4 May 2007 following the victory ofthe Free National Movement (FNM) Party at the 2 May general election.

Mr Ingraham is concurrently the Minister of Finance.

He previously served as prime minister from August 1992 to 2002. MrIngraham joined the FNM in 1990 which was then the Opposition Party.He was elected as party leader in May that year and appointed Leaderof the Opposition.

In 1987, Mr Ingraham was an independent Member of Parliament.Before that, he was Chairperson of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP)from 1976 to 1986 after entering politics in 1975 and being elected tothe National General Council of the PLP that year.

Mr Ingraham served as Minister for Housing and National Insurancefrom 1982 to 1984. He was first elected to the House of Assembly in1977 under the PLP ticket for his home constituency of Cooper’s Town,North Abaco.

Mr Ingraham was called to the Bahamas Bar in December 1972 andbecame the senior partner in the firm of Christie, Ingraham & Co.

Mr Ingraham was born on 4 August 1947 in Pine Ridge, Grand Bahama.

Website: www.bahamas.gov.bs

BANGLADESH

The Hon Sheikh HasinaPRIME MINISTER

The Hon Sheikh Hasina was returned to power for a second time asPrime Minister of Bangladesh when her Awami League party which ledan alliance of political parties won a landslide victory in theParliamentary Election on 29 December 2008.

She took office on 6 January 2009. Her first term as prime minister wasfrom June 1996 to 2001 after the Awami League won the 1996Parliamentary Election.

Sheikh Hasina served as Leader of the Opposition from 1986 to June1996, and again in 2001 when her ruling party lost the election.

Sheikh Hasina has been President of the Awami League since 1981when she was elected as the party’s leader while living in exile in NewDelhi, India. Sheikh Hasina is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,the founder of independent Bangladesh.

She has won numerous awards, including UNESCO’s Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize in 1998 for helping to end 25 years of insurgencyand conflict in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Sheikh Hasina also won theUN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Ceres Medal in 1999 for hercontributions to agricultural development and food security. She alsoreceived the Pearl S Buck Award in 2000 awarded by the RandolphCollege, Lynchburg, Virginia, USA, in recognition of her achievements insocio-economic and political affairs.

Sheikh Hasina is a graduate of the University of Dhaka. She is anauthor of several books, including Why Are They Street Children (1997);The Origins of Autocracy (1993); Miles To Go – Elimination of Povertyand Some Thoughts (1993); My Dream, My Struggle (1996); People andDemocracy (1997); and Development for the Masses (1999).

Sheikh Hasina was born on 28 September 1947 in Tungipara, Gopalganjdistrict, Bangladesh.

INDEPENDENCEDAY:26 March 1971

CAPITAL:Dhaka

GNI PER CAPITA:US$520

CURRENCY:Taka

ECONOMY:Agriculture, fisheriesand manufacturing

STATUS:Republic

Website: www.pmo.gov.bd

BARBADOS

The Hon David John Howard ThompsonPRIME MINISTER

The Hon David John Howard Thompson became the sixthPrime Minister of Barbados when his Democratic Liberal Party (DLP)won the January 2008 general election. He concurrently holds theposts of Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Development,Labour, Civil Service and Energy.

Mr Thompson was DLP President and Opposition Leader in 2006. From2003 to 2006, he resumed his law practice after relinquishing his postas Leader of the DLP and Leader of the Opposition in 2003. MrThompson was appointed Leader of the Opposition from 1994 to 2003.He continued to hold the post of General Secretary of the DLP from1987 to 1994 while serving as a Member of Parliament (MP) andCabinet minister. From 1993 to 1994, Mr Thompson became FinanceMinister. He served as Minister of State for Finance from 1992 to 1993.

Mr Thompson was first appointed to the Cabinet in 1991 as Minister ofCommunity Development and Culture. He was involved in theestablishment of the Barbados Youth Service and the Youth in BusinessProgramme, and in the restructuring of the National Youth Orchestra.

Mr Thompson became an MP in 1987. Before this, he joined private lawfirm Trident Chambers in 1986 and was a part-time law tutor at theUniversity of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago, from 1986 to 1988.

His involvement in politics began when he became president of theyouth wing of the DLP from 1980 to 1982.

Mr Thompson has a law degree from the University of the West Indiesand a postgraduate certificate in legal education from the sameinstitution.

He was born in London, UK, on 25 December 1961.

CAPITAL:Bridgetown

LAND AREA:430 sq km

POPULATION:295,000

CURRENCY:Barbados dollar

ECONOMY:Agriculture,manufacturing andtourism

Website: www.barbados.gov.bb

BELIZE

The Hon Dean BarrowPRIME MINISTER

The Hon Dean Barrow was sworn in as Prime Minister of Belize on8 February 2008 following a landslide victory at the general election on7 February.

He is concurrently the Minister of Finance.

Mr Barrow, Leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), had served asLeader of the Opposition from 1998 to February 2008.

From 1993 to 1998, he served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister ofForeign Affairs and National Security, and Attorney-General.

Mr Barrow served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and EconomicDevelopment from 1984 to 1989, after he was elected to the House ofRepresentatives in 1984 as the United Democratic Party (UDP) candidatefor the Queen’s Square electoral division.

Mr Barrow has a Master’s degree in Law and International Relations fromthe University of Miami, Florida, USA, and a Bachelor’s degree in Lawfrom the University of the West Indies, Barbados.

Mr Barrow was born in Belize City on 2 March 1951.

INDEPENDENCEDAY:21 September 1981

CAPITAL:Belmopan

POPULATION:310,000

GDP GROWTH:3% p.a.

CURRENCY:Belizean dollar

ECONOMY:Agriculture andfisheries

Website: www.governmentofbelize.gov.bz

BOTSWANA

HE Mr Seretse Khama Ian KhamaPRESIDENT

HE Mr Seretse Khama Ian Khama was sworn in to a second term inoffice as President of Botswana on 20 October 2009 following thevictory of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) at the generalelection on 16 October.

Mr Khama was appointed president on 1 April 2008 by his predecessorMr Festus Mogae.

Mr Khama is the Paramount Chief of the Bamangwato tribe. He is theson of Sir Seretse Khama, Botswana’s independence leader who was thecountry’s first president from 1966 to 1980.

Mr Khama was elected Chairperson of the BDP in July 2003.

He was appointed Vice-President in July 1998 after winning a by-election as a candidate of the BDP. Mr Khama, who had held the postof Lieutenant-General, had earlier stepped down from his post asCommander of the Botswana Defence Force in March 1998 to pursue apolitical career.

Mr Khama retained the post of Vice-President following the victory ofthe BDP in the general election of October 1999. He also held theconcurrent post of Minister of Presidential Affairs and PublicAdministration from October 1999 to January 2000.

Mr Khama, who is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst,UK, is a qualified pilot.

He was born on 27 February 1953 in Chertsey, Surrey, UK.

CAPITAL:Gaborone

POPULATION:1.9 million

GDP GROWTH:-1% p.a.

CURRENCY:Pula

ECONOMY:Diamonds, miningand textiles

STATUS:Republic with anexecutive president

Website: www.iankhama.com

BRUNEI DARUSSALAMHM Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji

Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin WaddaulahSULTAN AND YANG DI-PERTUAN

HM Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddinWaddaulah was crowned Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of BruneiDarussalam on 1 August 1968. He is the 29th Sultan and YangDi-Pertuan in his line, which dates back to the 14th century.

Sultan Haji Hasssanal Bolkiah ascended to the throne on 5 October1967 following the voluntary abdication of his father, Al-Marhum SultanHaji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien.

The Sultan is concurrently Prime Minister, Defence Minister, FinanceMinister and Head of the Religious Council. He set up the SultanHassanal Bolkiah Foundation in 1992.

He was educated in Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia, is a graduate ofthe Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, UK, and was commissioned asCaptain in 1967.

He was installed as Crown Prince in 1961 at the age of 15.

The Sultan was born on 15 July 1946 in Brunei Town, now known asBandar Seri Begawan.

INDEPENDENCEDAY:1 January 1984

CAPITAL:Bandar Seri Begawan

POPULATION:400,000

CURRENCY:Brunei dollar

ECONOMY:Agriculture, fisheries,oil and gas

STATUS:Nationalmonarchy

Website: www.brunei.gov.bn

CAMEROON

HE Mr Paul BiyaPRESIDENT

HE Mr Paul Biya became President of Cameroon on 6 November 1982following the resignation of his predecessor, Mr Ahmadou Ahidjo.

Mr Biya was returned to office in 1984, 1988, 1992 (by the first pluralistpresidential ballot ever held in the country), and in 1997 and 2004 forseven-year terms.

Mr Biya held the post of Chairperson of the Cameroon People’sDemocratic Movement in 1985 following its transformation from theCameroon National Union Party which he had also chaired since 1983.

Mr Biya was appointed Prime Minister in 1975. He had earlier served asMinister of State and Secretary-General in the Office of the President in1970. From 1968 to 1970, he was Secretary-General and Director of theCivil Cabinet in the Office of the President. Mr Biya served as Director ofthe Civil Cabinet from 1967 to 1968. Before that, he was PermanentSecretary in the Ministry of National Education in 1965 and served as itsDirector of Cabinet in 1964. Mr Biya was Chargé de Mission of thePresidency of Cameroon in 1962.

He attended the University of Sorbonne’s Faculty of Law and theInstitut des Haute Études d’Outre-Mer.

Mr Biya was born on 13 February 1933 in Mvoméka’a, South Province,Cameroon.

CAPITAL:Yaoundé

CURRENCY:CFA Franc

ECONOMY:Agriculture, miningand crude oil

Website: www.prc.cm

CANADA

The Rt Hon Stephen HarperPRIME MINISTER

The Rt Hon Stephen Harper was re-elected to a second term in office asPrime Minister of Canada following victory at the 14 October 2008general election. He first took office in February 2006.

Mr Harper is Leader of the Conservative Party which he co-founded in2003. Before that, he was Leader of the Opposition in 2002 afterwinning the leadership of the Canadian Alliance.

In 1997 Mr Harper was Vice-President (and later President) of theNational Citizens’ Coalition. He was first elected to the House ofCommons in 1993 as a Reform Party candidate for Calgary West,Alberta.

Mr Harper has Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Economics from theUniversity of Calgary.

He was born on 30 April 1959, in Toronto, Ontario.

NATIONAL DAY:1 July

CAPITAL:Ottawa

LAND AREA:10 million sq km

CURRENCY:Canadian dollar

ECONOMY:Agriculture,automobiles, forestry,oil and gas

Website: www.pm.gc.ca

CYPRUS

HE Mr Demetris ChristofiasPRESIDENT

HE Mr Demetris Christofias took office as President of Cyprus on28 February 2008 following victory at the presidential election on24 February.

Mr Christofias had served as President of the House of Representativesfrom 2001 to February 2008. He was first elected to the House ofRepresentatives as an AKEL-Left-New Forces Party candidate for theKyrenia district in 1991 and was re-elected in 1996, 2001 and 2006.AKEL is translated as: The Progressive Party for the Working People.

Mr Christofias has been General Secretary of the AKEL CentralCommittee since April 1988 and was re-elected in 1990, 1995, 2000 and2005. He had earlier been elected to the Secretariat of the AKEL CentralCommittee in 1987 and was a member of its Political Bureau in 1986.Mr Christofias was a member of the Central Committee from 1982 to1986. He was an elected member of the Nicosia-Kyrenia DistrictCommittee of AKEL in 1976.

Mr Christofias served as General Secretary of the United DemocraticYouth Organisation from 1977 to 1987. Before that, he held the post ofCentral Organisational Secretary from 1974 to 1977. Mr Christofias waselected to the Central Council of the United Democratic YouthOrganisation in 1969, which he joined in 1964 while also taking upmembership of AKEL and the Pancyprian Federation of Labour.

Mr Christofias first became active in politics at the age of 14 when hejoined the Pancyprian United Students Organisation.

He has a Doctorate in History from the Academy of Sciences of the USSR(now known as the Russian Academy of Sciences) and is fluent inRussian.

Mr Christofias was born on 29 August 1946 in Dhikomo, Kyrenia District,in the area of Cyprus under military occupation by Turkey since 1974.

INDEPENDENCEDAY:16 August 1960

CAPITAL:Nicosia

POPULATION:860,000

CURRENCY:Euro

ECONOMY:Agriculture,manufacturing andpharmaceuticals

Website: www.presidency.gov.cy

DOMINICA

The Hon Roosevelt SkerritPRIME MINISTER

The Hon Roosevelt Skerrit is serving his second term in office as PrimeMinister of Dominica following the victory of his Dominica Labour Partyin the May 2005 general election. He was first sworn into office inJanuary 2004 after the untimely passing of the late Prime Minister, theHon Pierre Charles.

Mr Skerrit is concurrently Minister for Finance, Social Security andNational Security.

He is the youngest Prime Minister to be elected in Dominica. He leadsthe Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on the issue of Free Movement ofLabour as part of the implementation of the Caribbean Single Marketand Economy.

Mr Skerrit was elected to the House of Assembly (Legislature) in 2000and first served as Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs. He later tookon the Education portfolio as well.

Before entering politics, Mr Skerrit worked as an educationist andlectured at the Dominica State College.

Mr Skerrit has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and English from theUniversity of Mississippi, USA.

He was born on 8 June 1972 in Vieille Case, Dominica.

CAPITAL:Roseau

LAND AREA:750 sq km

POPULATION:73,000

ECONOMY:Agriculture andtourism

STATUS:Republic

Website: www.dominica.gov.dm

THE GAMBIAHE Sheikh Professor AlhajiDr Yahya A J J JammehPRESIDENT

HE Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya A J J Jammeh is serving his thirdterm in office as President of the Republic of The Gambia following hisvictory at the September 2006 presidential election. Dr Jammeh firsttook office in October 1996 and won a second term in the October 2001presidential election.

Dr Jammeh served as Chairperson of the Authority of Heads of Stateand Government of the West African Monetary Zone in 2005. He wasappointed 1st Vice-Chairperson of the Organisation of the IslamicConference at its 9th Meeting of Heads of State and Government inDoha, Qatar, in 2001.

He also served as Chairperson of the Inter-States Committee for theControl of Drought in the Sahel from 1997 to 2000.

Dr Jammeh served in the Gambia National Army from 1984 to 1991,and the Gambia National Army’s Military Police from 1991 to 1994. Heis a graduate of the US Military Police Training Center in Port McClellan,Alabama, USA. In 1994, Dr Jammeh who was then a Lieutenant, wasChairperson of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council. Heattained the rank of Colonel in 1996 before retiring from the army.

Dr Jammeh was educated at The Gambia High School. He was conferredan honorary Doctorate in Law from the University of the Gambia in2004.

Dr Jammeh was born on 25 May 1965 in Kanilai Village, Foni KansalaDistrict, the Gambia.

INDEPENDENCEDAY:18 February 1965

CAPITAL:Banjul

CURRENCY:Dalasi

Website: www.statehouse.gm

HE Professor John Evans Atta MillsPRESIDENT

HE Professor John Evans Atta Mills was sworn into office as Presidentof Ghana on 7 January 2009 after winning the presidential run-off on2 January under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ticket.

He was Leader of the Opposition from 2004 to 2008.

In December 2002, Professor Mills was elected Chairperson of the NDC.

He held the post of Vice-President from 1997 to 2000 under thepresidency of Mr Jerry Rawlings.

Professor Mills served as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Servicefrom 1988 to 1996.

Professor Mills spent more than 25 years lecturing at the University ofGhana’s Faculty of Law. He was also a visiting lecturer at TempleUniversity, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, and Leiden University, TheNetherlands. He was a visiting scholar at the Liu Centre for the Study ofGlobal Affairs, University of British Columbia, Canada.

Professor Mills has a Doctorate in Law from the University of London,UK, and a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Ghana. Hewas a Fulbright scholar at Stanford University’s Law School, California,USA.

He has authored several publications including Exemption of Dividendsfrom Income Taxation: A Critical Appraisal and Ghana’s Income Tax Lawsand the Investor.

Professor Mills was born on 21 July 1944 in Tarkwa, Ghana.

CAPITAL:Accra

CURRENCY:Cedi

ECONOMY:Agriculture, miningand timber

Website: www.ghana.gov.gh

GRENADA

The Hon Tillman ThomasPRIME MINISTER

The Hon Tillman Thomas was sworn into office as Prime Minister ofGrenada on 11 July 2008 after winning the general election on 8 July.

He is concurrently Minister for National Security, Public Administration,Information, and Information Communication Technology and Culture.

Mr Thomas is Leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He waspreviously Leader of the Opposition from 2003 to June 2008.

Mr Thomas co-founded the NDC in 1987 and served as the party’sAssistant General Secretary until 1990. He was appointed Junior Ministerin the Ministry of Labour and was subsequently appointed Minister in theMinistries of Works and Tourism.

Earlier in his political career, Mr Thomas joined the Grenada DemocraticMovement in 1983, which merged with three other parties the followingyear to form the New National Party (NNP). The NNP won the 1984general election with Mr Thomas winning the St Patrick East constituency.He was appointed Junior Minister in the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

Mr Thomas has a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of theWest Indies, Barbados, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics fromFordham University, New York, USA.

He was born on 13 June 1947 in Hermitage, St Patrick, Grenada.

CAPITAL:St George’s

LAND AREA:340 sq km

POPULATION:100,000

ECONOMY:Agriculture

Website: www.gov.gd

GUYANA

HE Mr Bharrat JagdeoPRESIDENT

HE Mr Bharrat Jagdeo was elected to his second term in office asPresident of Guyana following the victory of the People’s ProgressiveParty/Civic (PPP/C) in the August 2006 general election. He was firstelected as president in the March 2001 election. Mr Jagdeo was earlierappointed president in August 1999 following the resignation of JanetJagan due to ill health.

Mr Jagdeo is currently Chairperson of the Caribbean Community. Heserved as Chairperson of the Board of Governors of the InternationalMonetary Fund (IMF) from 2005 to 2006. Earlier, he held the post ofGuyana’s Governor to the International Monetary Fund, World Bank,and Caribbean Development Bank, and was Chairperson of theCaribbean Group of Governors to the Inter-American DevelopmentBank.

In 1995, Mr Jagdeo was made Senior Minister of Finance and alsoserved as Director of the National Bank of Industry and Commerce. Hewas Junior Minister of Finance from 1993 to 1995, and served as aMember of the PPP Central and Executive Committees. Before that, hewas Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance in 1992.

In 1990, Mr Jagdeo worked as an economist at the State PlanningSecretariat. He became a member of the PPP in 1980 and served inleadership positions on district and regional committees. Mr Jagdeo’sentry into politics began at age 13 when he joined the youth arm ofthe PPP in 1977.

Mr Jagdeo has a Master’s degree in Economics from the People’sFriendship University in Moscow, Russia.

He was born on 23 January 1964 in Unity, East Coast Demerara,Guyana.

INDEPENDENCEDAY:26 May 1966

CAPITAL:Georgetown

POPULATION:760,000

GDP GROWTH:3% p.a.

CURRENCY:Guyana dollar

ECONOMY:Agriculture, miningand timber

Website: www.opnew.op.gov.gy

The Hon Dr Manmohan SinghPRIME MINISTER

The Hon Dr Manmohan Singh began a second term in office as PrimeMinister of India on 22 May 2009 following victory of his rulingCongress-led coalition at the May general election. He first becameprime minister in May 2004.

Dr Singh has been a member of India’s Upper House of Parliament(Rajya Sabha) since 1991, serving as Leader of the Opposition from 1998to 2004. He was Finance Minister from 1991 to 1996. Dr Singh served asSecretary-General of the South Commission in Geneva, Switzerland,from 1987 to 1990.

Dr Singh joined the civil service as an Economic Adviser in the Ministryof Commerce in 1971. The following year, he was appointed ChiefEconomic Adviser in the Ministry of Finance. Dr Singh went on to holdmany senior positions including Secretary in the Ministry of Finance,Deputy Chairperson of the Planning Commission, Governor of theReserve Bank of India, Adviser of the Prime Minister and Chairperson ofthe University Grants Commission.

Before that, Dr Singh was Professor of Economics at Panjab University,Chandigarh, and Professor of International Trade at Delhi University’sSchool of Economics. He also had a brief stint at the United NationsConference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretariat in Geneva.

Dr Singh obtained his Doctorate in Economics from the University ofOxford, UK. He has a Bachelor’s degree (Hons, 1st class) in Economicsfrom the University of Cambridge, UK, and a Master’s degree inEconomics from Panjab University.

He is the author of India's Export Trends and Prospects for Self-SustainedGrowth (1964).

Dr Singh was born on 26 September 1932 in Punjab, India.

CAPITAL:New Delhi

POPULATION:1.14 billion

CURRENCY:Rupee

ECONOMY:Engineering goods,textiles and tourism

STATUS:Republic

Website: www.pmindia.nic.in

JAMAICA

The Hon Orette Bruce GoldingPRIME MINISTER

The Hon Orette Bruce Golding was sworn in as the eighth PrimeMinister of Jamaica on 11 September 2007 after leading the JamaicaLabour Party (JLP) to victory in the 3 September general election.

Mr Golding was formerly Leader of the Opposition from April 2005 toSeptember 2007. He became head of the JLP in February 2005.

Mr Golding was Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Foreign Tradefrom 2002 to 2005. He was elected Chairperson of the JLP in November2003 after rejoining in 2002.

From 1995 to 2001, Mr Golding served as President of the NationalDemocratic Movement. Between 1984 and 1995, he was Chairperson ofthe JLP. Prior to that, he served as General Secretary of the JLP from1974 to 1984.

Mr Golding was appointed Minister of Construction in 1980, serving inthat position until 1989. He was elected Chairperson of the UNCommission on Human Settlements from 1984 to 1985. He was theOpposition Spokesperson on Finance and Chairperson of the PublicAccounts Committee from 1989 to 1995.

Mr Golding became a Member of Parliament in 1972. He was amember of the Central Executive Committee of the JLP in 1969.

Mr Golding has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University ofthe West Indies.

He was born on 5 December 1947.

CAPITAL:Kingston

GDP GROWTH:-1.3% p.a.

CURRENCY:Jamaican dollar

ECONOMY:Agriculture, miningand tourism

Website: www.jis.gov.jm

HE Mr Mwai KibakiPRESIDENT

HE Mr Mwai Kibaki won a second term in office as President of Kenyaafter the victory of the Party of National Unity coalition in the December2007 election. He served his first term in office in December 2002following the election victory of the National Rainbow Coalition Party.

Before this, Mr Kibaki was Leader of the Opposition from 1998 to 2002and also served as a Member of the House Business Committeeduring this period. In 1998, he headed the Democratic Party which heco-founded in 1991. Mr Kibaki was a Member and Chairperson of thePublic Accounts Committee from 1997 to 2002. He became Minister ofHealth in 1988. Prior to this, Mr Kibaki was Minister of Home Affairs andNational Heritage from 1983 to 1988.

While serving as Vice-President in 1978, Mr Kibaki was concurrentlyMinister of Finance and Economic Planning until 1983. He was firstappointed to the portfolio in 1970. Mr Kibaki was Leader of GovernmentBusiness and Chairperson of the Sessional Committee from 1978 to 1988.During this period, he also served as Vice-President of the Kenya AfricanNational Union (KANU).

Mr Kibaki took on the post of Minister of Commerce and Industry from1965 to 1969. From 1963 to 1965 he served as Parliamentary Secretary inthe Ministry of Finance. Mr Kibaki was elected to Parliament in 1963 onthe KANU ticket after embarking on a political career in 1960 as theExecutive Officer of KANU.

Before entering politics, he was an Assistant Lecturer at MakerereUniversity, Uganda, from 1958 to 1960.

Mr Kibaki has a Bachelor’s degree (Hons, 1st class) in Public Finance fromthe London School of Economics and a Bachelor’s degree (Hons, 1st class)in Economics from Makerere University, Uganda.

Mr Kibaki was born on 15 November 1931 in Othaya, Nyeri, Kenya.

INDEPENDENCEDAY:12 December 1963

CAPITAL:Nairobi

CURRENCY:Kenyan shilling

ECONOMY:Agriculture, fisheriesand tourism

Website: www.statehousekenya.go.ke

KIRIBATI

HE Mr Anote TongPRESIDENT

HE Mr Anote Tong is serving his second term in office as President ofKiribati following his victory in the October 2007 presidential election.He first took office in July 2003 as the country’s fourth President.Mr Tong is concurrently Minister of External Affairs and Immigration.

He was a Member of Parliament and a senior member of theBoutokaan Te Koaua Party from 1996 to 2003, and was re-elected inthe August 2007 parliamentary election.

Mr Tong previously served as Minister for Natural ResourcesDevelopment from 1994 to 1996. He was appointed Secretary for theMinistry of Communication and Works from 1980 to 1982, and SeniorAssistant Secretary in the Ministry of Education from 1976 to 1977.

Mr Tong has been Chairperson of the National Fishing Company,the Development Bank of Kiribati, Otintai Hotel and Air TungaruCo-operative.

He has a Master’s degree in Economics from the London School ofEconomics, UK, and a Bachelor’s degree in Science from the Universityof Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Mr Tong was born in 1952.

CAPITAL:Tarawa

LAND AREA:810 sq km

POPULATION:101,000

LESOTHO

The Rt Hon Bethuel Pakalitha MosisiliPRIME MINISTER

The Rt Hon Bethuel Pakalitha Mosisili was re-elected to a third term asPrime Minister of Lesotho following the 17 February 2007 generalelection. He is concurrently Minister of Defence and National Security.

Mr Mosisili served as Chairperson of the Southern African DevelopmentCommunity from August 2006 to August 2007.

He has been leading the Lesotho Congress for Democracy party sinceFebruary 1998. Mr Mosisili was Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister forHome Affairs and Local Government from 1995 to 1998. Before this heheld the post of Minister for Education and Manpower Developmentfrom 1993 to 1995 after being elected to Parliament.

Mr Mosisili was formerly a member of the Basutoland Congress Partyin 1967.

He has a Master’s degree in Education from the Simon Fraser University,Canada, and a Master’s degree in Linguistics from the University ofWisconsin, USA. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Sesotho from theUniversity of South Africa, and from the University of Botswana,Lesotho and Swaziland.

Mr Mosisili started his career as a high school teacher and a lecturer inAfrican languages at various universities in Southern Africa.

He was born on 14 March 1945 in Qacha’s Nek, Lesotho.

INDEPENDENCEDAY:4 October 1966

CAPITAL:Maseru

CURRENCY:Loti

ECONOMY:Agriculture,manufacturingand tourism

STATUS:National monarchy

Website: www.lesotho.gov.ls

MALAWI

HE Dr Bingu wa MutharikaPRESIDENT

HE Dr Bingu wa Mutharika won a second term in office as President ofMalawi following a decisive victory of the ruling Democratic ProgressiveParty in the general election on 18 May 2009. He first took office in May2004.

Dr Mutharika was Senior Minister of Economic Planning andDevelopment from 2003 to 2004. Prior to this, he served as DeputyGovernor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi from 2001 to 2003. He alsoserved as Secretary-General of the Common Market for Eastern andSouthern Africa from 1991 to 1997. Dr Mutharika was formerly Directorof the Trade and Finance Division of the United Nations EconomicCommission for Africa. He also worked at the World Bank.

Dr Mutharika spearheaded the establishment of several regionaleconomic organisations such as the Association of African CentralBanks, Conference of African Ministers of Finance, African Federation ofChambers of Commerce and Industry, and Eastern and Southern AfricaBusiness Organisation.

He has authored several books, including One Africa, One Destiny:Africa’s Response to Globalisation (2007); Mabizinesi Aphindu:Mayendetsedwe Abwino Amakono (Modern Methods of RunningProfitable Businesses) (2004); One Africa, One Destiny: TowardsDemocracy, Good Governance and Development (1995); and TowardsMultinational Economic Co-operation in Africa (1972).

Dr Mutharika holds a Doctorate in Development Economics from thePacific Western University, Los Angeles, USA, as well as a Master’s degreein Economics and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the Universityof Delhi, India.

He was born on 24 February 1934 in Kamoto Village, Thyolo, Malawi.

CAPITAL:Lilongwe

CURRENCY:Malawi kwacha

ECONOMY:Agriculture

Website: www.malawi.gov.mw

MALAYSIAThe Hon Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin TunHaji Abdul RazakPRIME MINISTER

The Hon Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak took office asthe sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia on 3 April 2009. He succeededthe Hon Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi who stepped down afterfive-and-a-half years at the helm.

Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib is also the President of the United Malays NationalOrganisation (UMNO), which is the dominant political party in Malaysia.UMNO leads the ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition,which has ruled the South-East Asian country since independence in1957. He is also a Member of Parliament (MP) for Pekan, Pahang.

Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib has been active in Malaysian politics for morethan 30 years. He was elected as Malaysia’s youngest MP at the age of23 in 1976 for the Pekan parliamentary seat that had been vacated bythe sudden demise of his father, the late Tun Haji Abdul Razak binHussein, Malaysia’s second prime minister.

In 1978, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib was made Deputy Minister of Energy,Telecommunications and Post – the youngest person to hold theportfolio. In 1980, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Education, anda year later, Deputy Minister of Finance.

In 1986, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib was made Minister of Culture, Youth andSports at the age of 32, again, the youngest cabinet member at thetime. He held the post of Minister of Youth and Sports from 1987 to1990. Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib went on to hold many ministerial portfolios– Defence Minister (1990-1995 and 1998-2008), Finance Minister(September 2008-present) and Education Minister (1995-1999). In 2004,he was made Deputy Prime Minister.

Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib attended the University of Nottingham, UK, wherehe graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Economics in 1974.

He was born on 23 July 1953 in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, Malaysia.

CAPITAL:Kuala Lumpur

CURRENCY:Ringgit

ECONOMY:Agriculture,manufacturing,oil and gas, andtourism

STATUS:National monarchy

Website: www.pmo.gov.my

MALDIVES

HE Mr Mohamed NasheedPRESIDENT

HE Mr Mohamed Nasheed was sworn into office on 11 November 2008,after winning the run-off of the first multiparty presidential election inMaldives on 28 October. He succeeded Mr Maumoon Abdul Gayoomwho had ruled the Indian Ocean archipelago for 30 years from 1978 to2008.

Mr Nasheed was the leader and founding member of the country’s firstopposition party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). He served inthe party’s General Council since the MDP’s establishment in 2004 andwas elected as the Chairperson of the MDP in December 2005.

Prior to the launch of the MDP, Mr Nasheed was a member of thePeople’s Majlis (Parliament) for a brief period in 1999 before losing hisseat when he was jailed as a political prisoner.

Before his entry into politics, Mr Nasheed served as Director of theOriental Academic Centre, a research institution for history andliterature, in Malé in 2001. He was a director of a local tourismcompany in Malé from 1994 to 1998.

Mr Nasheed was educated at the Majeediyya School in Malé beforeattending the Overseas School of Colombo in Sri Lanka. He completedhis ‘A’ levels at the Dauntsey’s School, Wiltshire, UK, and later graduatedfrom the Liverpool John Moores University, UK, in 1989 with a BSc inMaritime Studies.

Mr Nasheed is the author of a collection of books and novels in Dhivehiand English.

Mr Nasheed was born on 17 May 1967 in Malé.

CAPITAL:Malé

LAND AREA:300 sq km

POPULATION:337,000

CURRENCY:Maldivian rufiyaa

ECONOMY:Fisheries and tourism

Website: www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv

The Hon Dr Lawrence GonziPRIME MINISTER

The Hon Dr Lawrence Gonzi is serving a second term as Prime Minister ofMalta following the victory of his Nationalist Party (NP) at the 8 March2008 general election. He first took office in March 2004 soon after beingelected Leader of the NP.

Prior to this, Dr Gonzi was Deputy Prime Minister from May 1999 toMarch 2004, while holding the post of Deputy Leader of the NP. He wasappointed Leader of the House of Representatives from September 1998to March 2004.

Dr Gonzi served as Minister for Social Policy from 1998 to 1999.

From 1997 to 1999, he served as Secretary-General of the NP.

Dr Gonzi was elected to parliament in 1996 and served as OppositionParty Whip, Secretary to the Parliamentary Group and Shadow Ministerfor Social Policy from 1996 to 1998.

He served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1988 to 1996.

From 1989 to 1997, Dr Gonzi was Chairperson of a leading company inthe private sector.

Prior to his entry into politics, he practised law from 1975 to 1988.

Dr Gonzi obtained his Doctorate in Law from the University of Malta.

He was born on 1 July 1953 in Valletta.

CAPITAL:Valletta

LAND AREA:320 sq km

POPULATION:410,000

CURRENCY:Euro

ECONOMY:Manufacturing,services and tourism

STATUS:Republic

Website: www.gov.mt

MAURITIUS

The Hon Dr Navinchandra RamgoolamPRIME MINISTER

The Hon Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam became Prime Minister ofMauritius on 5 July 2005. He is concurrently Minister of Defence andHome Affairs.

Dr Ramgoolam of the Mauritius Labour Party (MLP), was Leader of theOpposition from October 2000 to July 2005.

He had earlier served as prime minister from December 1995 toSeptember 2000. From 1991 to 1995, he was Leader of the Opposition.

Dr Ramgoolam has headed the MLP since 1991 and served as itsPresident from June 1991 to July 1992.

Before entering politics, Dr Ramgoolam worked as a medical doctor inMauritius from 1985 to 1987. He earlier served as a medical doctor atThe Yorkshire Clinic in West Yorkshire, UK, from 1982 to 1985.

Dr Ramgoolam was a senior medical doctor at the Amersham GeneralHospital, Buckinghamshire, UK, from 1981 to 1982; and a clinicalassistant in cardiology at the University College Hospital in London from1977 to 1981.

From 1976 to 1977, Dr Ramgoolam worked as a resident medical doctorat the Dr A G Jeetoo Hospital in Port Louis, Mauritius. Prior to this, hewas an intern at St Laurence’s Hospital in Dublin, Ireland.

Dr Ramgoolam has a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the University ofLondon, UK. He later completed a vocation course at the Inns of CourtSchool of Law in 1993 and was called to the Bar at Inner Temple, UK,that year.

He holds a Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of England, anda Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland.

Dr Ramgoolam was born on 14 July 1947.

CAPITAL:Port Louis

CURRENCY:Mauritian rupee

STATUS:Republic

Website: www.primeminister.gov.mu

MOZAMBIQUE

HE Mr Armando Emilio GuebuzaPRESIDENT

HE Mr Armando Emilio Guebuza was re-elected to a second termin office as President of Mozambique following a decisive victory atthe presidential election on 28 October 2009. He first took office inFebruary 2005.

Mr Guebuza was the Secretary-General of Front for the Liberation ofMozambique (FRELIMO) in 2002 and its Chief Whip in the firstmultiparty parliament that emerged after the 1994 general election.He headed the government delegation to the Rome talks with theMozambican National Resistance, RENAMO, which culminated in theRome Peace Agreement of 2 October 1992.

Mr Guebuza was also involved in the Burundi Peace Process, and in1997 he was in charge of the Commission on the Nature of the BurundiConflict, and Problems of Genocide and Exclusion and its Solution.He chaired the Commission for Guarantees for the Implementation ofthe Peace Agreement in 2000.

Mr Guebuza was appointed Minister of Transport and Communicationsin 1986 and Minister in the President’s Office with responsibility forAgriculture, Trade, Light Industry and Tourism from 1984 to 1986. Hewas Minister of the Interior from 1983 to 1985, and from 1975 to 1977.From 1966 to 1978, Mr Guebuza held various posts in FRELIMO,including Minister of Home Affairs in the Transition Governmentformed after the Lusaka Agreement of 1974. He joined FRELIMO in 1963and has been a FRELIMO Central Committee member since 1965.

Mr Guebuza was born on 20 January 1943 in Murrupula, NampulaProvince, Mozambique.

INDEPENDENCEDAY:25 June 1975

CAPITAL:Maputo

CURRENCY:Mozambique metical

ECONOMY:Agriculture, fisheries,and mining

Website: www.govnet.gov.mz

NAMIBIA

HE Mr Hifikepunye PohambaPRESIDENT

HE Mr Hifikepunye Pohamba was sworn in as the second President ofNamibia on 21 March 2005.

Between 1996 and 2005, he served as Minister of Fisheries and MarineResources; Minister without Portfolio; and Minister of Lands,Resettlement and Rehabilitation.

In 2002, Mr Pohamba was Vice-President of the South West AfricanPeople’s Organisation (SWAPO) after serving as its Secretary-Generalsince 1997.

Following Independence in March 1990, he served as Minister ofHome Affairs.

In 1989 Mr Pohamba was Head of Administration in the SWAPODirectorate of Elections in Windhoek, and became a member of theConstituent Assembly in November that year where he participated inthe drafting of the Namibia Constitution.

In 1978 Mr Pohamba was made Secretary of Finance after becominga member of the SWAPO’s Political Bureau. He was SWAPO’s ChiefRepresentative in East Africa from 1973 to 1977, based in Dar esSalaam, United Republic of Tanzania. He held the post of DeputyAdministrative Secretary in 1970. From 1964 to 1969, Mr Pohamba wasSWAPO’s Deputy Chief Representative for Central and North Africa,based in Algiers, Algeria. He co-founded SWAPO in 1960.

Mr Pohamba has a Diploma from the International School of PoliticalScience in Moscow, Russia.

He was born on 18 August 1935 in Okanghudhi-Pohamba Village,Ondobe Constituency, Namibia.

CAPITAL:Windhoek

CURRENCY:Namibia dollar

ECONOMY:Diamonds, fisheries,livestock farming andmining

Website: www.grnnet.gov.na

NEW ZEALAND

The Hon John KeyPRIME MINISTER

The Hon John Key took office on 19 November 2008 after his NationalParty (NP) won the 8 November general election.

He is concurrently Tourism Minister.

Mr Key was elected as NP leader in November 2006 after becoming itsSpokesperson on Finance in 2004. He won a parliamentary seat in 2002as an NP representative for Helensville.

Before his entry into politics, Mr Key was a member of the ForeignExchange Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York from1999 to 2001. He had earlier worked for Merrill Lynch in Singapore,London and Sydney. Mr Key started his career in investment banking inthe mid-1980s.

He has a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University ofCanterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Mr Key was born on 9 August 1961 in Auckland.

NATIONAL DAY:6 February

CAPITAL:Wellington

CURRENCY:New Zealand dollar

ECONOMY:Agriculture, livestockfarming and tourism

Website: www.johnkey.co.nz

HE Mr Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was sworn in as President of Nigeria on29 May 2007 following his victory in the April presidential election.

Mr Yar’Adua of the People’s Democratic Party was formerly theGovernor of Katsina State from 1999 to 2007. He was a member of the1989 Constitution Drafting Committee, which prepared the groundworkfor the return to civil democratic governance. In 1990, Mr Yar’Adua tookon the role of Secretary of both the now defunct People’s Front and theSocial Democratic Party in Katsina State.

Before his entry into politics, Mr Yar’Adua was a businessman as well asa lecturer at the Katsina Polytechnic.

Mr Yar’Adua has a Master’s degree in Chemistry from the Ahmadu BelloUniversity in Zaria and a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the sameinstitution.

Mr Yar’Adua was born on 16 August 1951 in Katsina, Nigeria.

CAPITAL:Abuja

CURRENCY:Naira

ECONOMY:Oil and gas

Website: www.nigeriafirst.org

NIGERIA

HE Mr Umaru Musa Yar’AduaPRESIDENT

PAKISTAN

The Hon Syed Yousaf Raza GilaniPRIME MINISTER

The Hon Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani took office as Prime Minister ofPakistan on 25 March 2008.

From 1993 to 1997, he was Speaker of the National Assembly. Prior tothat Mr Gilani held the post of Minister for Local Government and RuralDevelopment in 1993 during the interim government.

In 1988, Mr Gilani joined the Pakistan People’s Party and served asFederal Minister for Tourism, Housing and Works until 1990.

Between 1985 and 1986, he served as Federal Minister for Housing andWorks, and later took on the Railways portfolio.

Mr Gilani began his political career in 1978 as a member of the CentralWorking Committee of the Pakistan Muslim League.

He has a Master’s degree in Journalism from Punjab University.

Mr Gilani was born on 9 June 1952 in Karachi.

CAPITAL:Islamabad

CURRENCY:Pakistan rupee

ECONOMY:Agriculture andmanufacturing

STATUS:Republic

Website: www.www.infopak.gov.pk

The Rt Hon Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare is serving his fourth term inoffice as Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea following his victory inthe July 2007 general election as Leader of the National Alliance Party.He took office earlier in 2002.

Sir Michael was the first Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea followingIndependence, serving from 1975 to 1981, and again from 1982 to1985. His first two terms were as a member of the Pangu Pati.

In between Sir Michael’s premiership, he was Leader of the Oppositionfrom 1981 to 1982, 1985 to 1987, and from 2001 to 2002.

From 1999 to 2001, Sir Michael was Minister for Mining andBougainville Affairs. He formed the National Alliance Party in 1996.

Sir Michael was elected to the House of Assembly in 1968 as a memberof the Pangu Pati which he had founded in 1967. He became the firstofficial Opposition Party Leader. Prior to entering politics, Sir Michaelwas a broadcast officer and teacher.

He was born on 9 April 1936 in Rabaul, East New Britain Province,Papua New Guinea.

CAPITAL:Port Moresby

CURRENCY:Kina

ECONOMY:Agriculture, timber,mining (gold, copper,silver) and natural gas

Website: www.pm.gov.pg

PAPUA NEW GUINEAThe Rt Hon Grand Chief

Sir Michael SomarePRIME MINISTER

The Hon Dr Denzil Llewellyn Douglas is serving his third term in officeas Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis following his success at thegeneral election in October 2004. He was sworn in as the country’ssecond Prime Minister in July 1995, and was re-elected in March 2000.

Dr Douglas is also concurrently Minister of Foreign Affairs, Finance andSustainable Development, Information and Technology, Tourism,Culture and Sports.

He is currently Chairperson of the Organisation of Eastern CaribbeanStates, and had earlier served as Chairperson of the Small States Forumof the World Bank in 2004.

Dr Douglas became Leader of the Labour Party in 1989 and Leader ofthe Opposition in the St Kitts and Nevis National Assembly. Dr Douglaswas Deputy Chairperson of the Labour Party from 1987 to 1989.

Before entering politics, Dr Douglas was in private medical practice andserved as President of the St Kitts-Nevis Medical Association in the late1980s.

He has a Bachelor’s degree in Science, with qualifications in Medicineand Surgery from the University of the West Indies.

Dr Douglas was born on 14 January 1953 in St Paul’s, St Kitts.

36 Website: www.gov.kn

ST KITTS AND NEVIS

The Hon Dr Denzil Llewellyn DouglasPRIME MINISTER

CAPITAL:Basseterre

LAND AREA:262 sq km

POPULATION:50,000

The Hon Stephenson King was sworn in as Prime Minister of St Lucia on9 September 2007, succeeding the late Sir John Compton. Mr King hadbeen Acting Prime Minister since May 2007 following Sir John’s illness.In a cabinet reshuffle in June 2007, he also took on the post of Ministerof Finance, External Affairs, Home Affairs, National Security, Labour,Information and Broadcasting.

The Prime Minister is concurrently Minister for Finance, EconomicAffairs and National Development. Before taking on the country’sleadership, Mr King served as Minister of Health and Labour Relations.

From 1997 to 2006, when the United Workers Party (UWP) was inOpposition, Mr King served in various capacities, including GeneralSecretary and Chairperson of the UWP.

From 1992 to 1997, he served in various portfolios, including Ministerfor Health, Local Government, Information and Broadcasting.

Mr King was first elected to Parliament in 1987 under the UWP ticketand was appointed Minister for Community Development, SocialAffairs, Youth and Sport.

He was a founding member and Chairperson of the Regional PoliticalYouth Organisation and the Caribbean Youth Conference from 1984 to1995.

Mr King was born on 13 November 1958 in Castries.

CAPITAL:Castries

LAND AREA:620 sq km

POPULATION:170,000

Website: www.pm.gov.lc

ST LUCIA

The Hon Stephenson KingPRIME MINISTER

ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

The Hon Dr Ralph Everard GonsalvesPRIME MINISTER

The Hon Dr Ralph Everard Gonsalves is serving his second term asPrime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines after his Unity LabourParty (ULP) won re-election in the December 2005 polls.

Dr Gonsalves first took office in March 2001. He is concurrently Ministerof Finance, Economic Planning, National Security, Legal Affairs,Grenadines Affairs and Energy.

Dr Gonsalves was Leader of the Opposition from October 1999 until hiselection in March 2001. He has been Leader of the ULP since 1998 afterholding the post of Deputy Leader from 1994 to 1998. Between 1979and 1994, he held leadership positions in the United People’sMovement and the Movement for National Unity.

Dr Gonsalves had practised law before the Eastern Caribbean SupremeCourt. He was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn, UK. He has a Doctorate inGovernment from the University of Manchester, UK, as well as aMaster’s degree in Government from the University of the West Indies inJamaica, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the sameuniversity.

Dr Gonsalves is the author of several books, including The Politics ofOur Caribbean Civilisation: Essays and Speeches (2001), and History andthe Future: A Caribbean Perspective (1994).

Dr Gonsalves was born on 8 August 1946 in Colonarie, St Vincent.

CAPITAL:Kingstown

LAND AREA:390 sq km

POPULATION:120,000

GDP GROWTH:1% p.a.

Website: www.gov.vc

The Hon Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sa’ilele Malielegaoi is serving his thirdterm in office as Prime Minister of Samoa after his victory in the March2006 general election. He was earlier elected into office in the March2001 general election. Mr Malielegaoi first became Prime Minister fromNovember 1998 to March 2001 when his predecessor, Tofilau EtiAlesana, stepped down.

Mr Malielegaoi is concurrently holding the ministerial portfolios forForeign Affairs, Police and Telecommunications. He served as DeputyPrime Minister from 1988 to 1998, and also held the concurrentministerial portfolios of Finance, Tourism, as well as Trade, Commerceand Industry.

Mr Malielegaoi has held other key appointments, including Chairpersonof the Pacific Branch of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Groupof States from 1988 to 2000, and Co-President of the ACP-EuropeanUnion Council of Ministers in 1990 and 1992.

Mr Malielegaoi held ministerial portfolios in Finance, Economic Affairs,Transport and Civil Aviation from 1982 to 1985. He became a Memberof Parliament in May 1981.

Before embarking on a political career, Mr Malielegaoi was DeputyFinancial Secretary in the Treasury from 1973 to 1981. During thisperiod, he served in the ACP Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium, as anexpert on intra-ACP trade, transport and communications, from 1978 to1980. Before joining the civil service, Mr Malielegaoi was a partner inan accounting firm in Samoa.

He has Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Commerce from theUniversity of Auckland, New Zealand. He is also a certified publicaccountant.

Mr Malielegaoi was born on 14 April 1945 in Lepa, Samoa.

CAPITAL:Apia

POPULATION:186,000

CURRENCY:Tala or Samoandollar

STATUS:Republic

Website: www.govt.ws

SAMOAThe Hon Tuilaepa Lupesoliai

Sa’ilele MalielegaoiPRIME MINISTER

SEYCHELLES

HE Mr James Alix MichelPRESIDENT

HE Mr James Alix Michel is serving a second term in office as Presidentof Seychelles after winning the July 2006 presidential election. He firsttook office in April 2004 following the retirement of his predecessor,Mr France Albert René.

Mr Michel is concurrently Minister for Foreign Affairs, Defence, Police,Legal Affairs and Information. He is also President of his ruling PartiLepep (People’s Party), which was renamed in June 2009 from what wasknown as the Seychelles People’s Progressive Front (SPPF).

Mr Michel previously served as Vice-President of Seychelles from 1996to April 2004, and also held ministerial portfolios for Defence,Education, Finance, Economic Planning, and Information Technologyand Communications. From 1993 to 1996, he was First DesignatedMinister to discharge the Office of the President in the absence of theHead of State.

Mr Michel became Vice-Chairperson of the Seychelles InternationalBusiness Authority in 1995 and has been Vice-Chairperson of theEconomic and Finance Inter-Ministerial Committee since 1993.He became a member of the National Economic Council in 1991.Mr Michel served as Secretary-General of the SPPF from 1994 to June2009. Prior to that, he held the post of Deputy Secretary-General from1984 to 1994. In 1978 he became a member of the Central ExecutiveCommittee (CEC) of the SPPF which replaced the Seychelles People’sUnited Party where he was also a CEC member from 1974 to 1977.

Mr Michel served in the Seychelles Defence Forces from 1977 to 1993,becoming Chief of Staff in 1979 before retiring as a Colonel. He joinedthe private sector after a brief period as a teacher. Mr Michel waseducated in Seychelles and attended the Teacher Training College.

He was born on 16 August 1944 in Mahé, Seychelles.

CAPITAL:Victoria

LAND AREA:460 sq km

POPULATION:90,000

CURRENCY:Seychelles rupee

ECONOMY:Fisheries andtourism

Website: www.statehouse.gov.sc

INDEPENDENCEDAY:27 April 1961

CAPITAL:Freetown

CURRENCY:Leone

ECONOMY:Mining, agricultureand fisheries

HE Mr Ernest Bai Koroma became President of Sierra Leone inSeptember 2007. He is the leader of the All People’s Congress party,which had previously ruled Sierra Leone from 1967 to 1992. Beforebecoming president, Mr Koroma was the minority leader in Parliamentfrom 2005 to August 2007.

Before his entry into politics, Mr Koroma was an insurance executive,holding the post of managing director of the Reliance Insurance TrustCorporation. Prior to this, he had worked for the National InsuranceCompany. Mr Koroma started his working career as a teacher at the StFrancis Secondary School in Makeni.

He is a graduate of Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.

Mr Koroma was born on 2 October 1953 in Makeni, Bombali district,Sierra Leone.

Website: www.statehouse.gov.sl

SIERRA LEONE

HE Mr Ernest Bai KoromaPRESIDENT

SINGAPORE

The Hon Lee Hsien LoongPRIME MINISTER

The Hon Lee Hsien Loong is serving his second term in office as PrimeMinister of Singapore following victory at the May 2006 general election.He first became Prime Minister in August 2004, while concurrentlyserving as Minister for Finance, a post he was appointed to in 2001.He relinquished the Finance portfolio in 2007.

From 1990 to 2004, Mr Lee was Deputy Prime Minister withresponsibilities for economic and civil service matters. In 1998 he wasappointed Chairperson of the Monetary Authority of Singapore and heserved in the post until 2004. Mr Lee was Minister for Trade and Industryfrom 1987 to 1992. From 1987 to 1990, he held the concurrent post ofSecond Minister for Defence. Mr Lee had risen through the ranks fromhis first appointment as Minister of State in the Ministry of Trade andIndustry, and the Ministry of Defence from 1984 to 1987.

Mr Lee became the Secretary-General of the ruling People’s Action Party(PAP) in December 2004 after holding the post of First AssistantSecretary-General since 1992. He was Second Assistant Secretary-Generalfrom 1989 to 1992. Mr Lee was elected to the PAP’s Central ExecutiveCommittee in 1986 after becoming a Member of Parliament in 1984.

Before his entry into politics, Mr Lee was a Brigadier-General in theSingapore Armed Forces (SAF). He joined the SAF in 1971 and heldvarious staff and command posts. Mr Lee attended the US ArmyCommand and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, USA,in 1978. He was the first Director of the Joint Operations and PlansDirectorate, and Chief of Staff of the General Staff.

Mr Lee has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from HarvardUniversity, USA, and a Bachelor’s degree (Hons, 1st class) in Mathematicsfrom the University of Cambridge, UK.

Mr Lee was born on 10 February 1952.

CAPITAL:Singapore

LAND AREA:699 sq km

CURRENCY:Singapore dollar

ECONOMY:Financial services,manufacturing,bio-technology andtourism

STATUS:Republic

Website: www.cabinet.gov.sg

The Hon Dr David Derek Sikua took office as Prime Minister ofSolomon Islands on 20 December 2007.

He became a member of the Opposition Liberal Party inNovember 2007.

Dr Sikua had previously served as Minister of Education and HumanResources Development in the cabinet of his predecessor Mr ManassehSogavare from May 2006 to 10 November 2007.

Dr Sikua was elected to the National Parliament in April 2006. From2003 to 2005, he was Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Educationand Human Resources Development. He had earlier held the post ofPermanent Secretary of the Ministry of Forests, Environment andConservation from 1997 to 1998.

Dr Sikua was Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education andHuman Resources Development from 1994 to 1997, after serving asUnder-Secretary from 1993. Prior to this he was a senior official in theMinistry after having worked for a brief period as a teacher.

Dr Sikua has a Doctorate in Education from the University of Waikato,Hamilton, New Zealand, and a Master’s degree in Education fromMonash University, Victoria, Australia. He obtained a Bachelor’s degreein Education from the University of Southern Queensland, Australia,and a Diploma in Education from the University of the South Pacific inSuva, Fiji Islands.

Dr Sikua was born on 10 September 1959 in Ngalitavethi Village,Guadacanal Province.

CAPITAL:Honiara

POPULATION:510,000

CURRENCY:Solomon Islandsdollar

ECONOMY:Agriculture, fisheriesand forestry

Website: www.pmc.gov.sb

SOLOMON ISLANDS

The Hon Dr David Derek SikuaPRIME MINISTER

SOUTH AFRICA

HE Mr Jacob Gedleyihlekisa ZumaPRESIDENT

HE Mr Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma took office as President ofSouth Africa on 9 May 2009.

He is also President of the African National Congress (ANC) since takingover its leadership in December 2007. Mr Zuma had earlier served asDeputy President of South Africa from 1999 to 2005. He was DeputyPresident of the ANC in 1997 after serving as both Chairperson of theANC, as well as Chairperson of its KwaZulu-Natal branch in 1994.During the period from 1994 to 1997, Mr Zuma also served in theExecutive Committee of Economic Affairs and Tourism for the provincialgovernment. In 1991, he was elected ANC Deputy Secretary-General.

Mr Zuma was one of the first ANC leaders to return to South Africa in1990 following the removal of the ban on the ANC, to begin the processof negotiation with the ruling F W de Klerk government. In the sameyear, Mr Zuma was elected Chairperson of the ANC’s Southern Natalbranch and he led the party towards a number of peace accords withthe rival Inkatha Freedom Party.

From 1975 to 1987, Mr Zuma was actively involved in working for theANC branches in Swaziland and Mozambique. He became a member ofthe National Executive Committee in 1977, and served as Deputy ChiefRepresentative and later Chief Representative of the ANC inMozambique until 1984. Mr Zuma also served on the ANC’s Military andPolitical Committees, and was Chief of Intelligence at the ANC headoffice in Lusaka, Zambia, in 1987.

Between 1974 and 1975, he helped to re-establish ANC undergroundstructures in the then Natal province. Mr Zuma first joined the ANC in1958 and became a member of Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of theNation), the military wing of the ANC, in 1962.

Mr Zuma was born on 12 April 1942 in Inkandla, KwaZulu-Natal.

NATIONAL DAY:27 April

CAPITAL:Tshwane

CURRENCY:Rand

ECONOMY:Agriculture, miningand tourism

Website: www.thepresidency.gov.za

HE Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa was sworn into office as the fifth Presidentof Sri Lanka on 19 November 2005.

Mr Rajapaksa is Chair of the ruling United People’s Freedom Allianceled by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

He had previously served as Prime Minister from April 2004 toNovember 2005 in the government of President ChandrikaKumaratunga. At the time, Mr Rajapaksa held the concurrent post ofMinister of Highways.

Mr Rajapaksa was Leader of the Opposition from March 2002 to 2004.From 1994 to 2001, Mr Rajapaksa served as Minister of Labour andVocational Training; Fisheries; and Ports and Shipping.

Along with his political career, Mr Rajapaksa had practised law in thesouthern town of Tangalle from 1977 to 1994 until his ministerialappointment in 1994.

Mr Rajapaksa entered politics in 1970 as a Member of Parliament ofthe SLFP. He lost his Parliamentary seat in 1977 during the landslidevictory of the United National Party, but was re-elected in the generalelection in 1989. Mr Rajapaksa held this position until his appointmentas Sri Lanka’s President in 2005. He was elected SLFP President in June2006.

Mr Rajapaksa qualified as Attorney-at-Law in 1977 after graduatingfrom the Colombo Law College.

Mr Rajapaksa was born on 18 November 1945 in Weeraketiya, Sri Lanka.

CAPITAL:Colombo

CURRENCY:Sri Lanka rupee

ECONOMY:Agriculture, jewelleryand textiles

Website: www.president.gov.lk

SRI LANKA

HE Mr Mahinda RajapaksaPRESIDENT

SWAZILAND

The Hon Dr Barnabas Sibusiso DlaminiPRIME MINISTER

The Hon Dr Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini was reappointed Prime Ministerof Swaziland by HM King Mswati III in October 2008.

Dr Dlamini had previously served in the post from 1996 to 2003, beforebecoming a member of the King’s advisory council from 2003.

He had earlier served as Minister of Finance from 1984 to 1993.

Dr Dlamini was born on 15 May 1942.

CAPITAL:Mbabane

CURRENCY:Lilangeni

ECONOMY:Agriculture andmanufacturing

Website: www.gov.sz

The Hon Dr Feleti Vaka’uta SevelePRIME MINISTER

The Hon Dr Feleti Vaka’uta Sevele was appointed as the 14th PrimeMinister of Tonga on 30 March 2006 by the late HM King Taufa’ahauTupou IV, becoming the first commoner to assume the post.

Dr Sevele had earlier been appointed Acting Prime Minister on11 February 2006 following the resignation of HRH Prince ’UlukalalaLavaka Ata.

Dr Sevele held the post of Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industriesbefore taking office as prime minister. He was elected as a People’sRepresentative to the Parliament of Tonga in 1999, and re-elected in2002 and 2005.

He was also director of Tonga Oil Mill, director of Tonga PacificNavigation Company and a member of the Tongan NationalScholarship Committee. Dr Sevele had also served as Secretary-Generalof the Tonga Amateur Sports Association and the National OlympicCommittee. Prior to that, he was chairperson of the Tongan AmateurSports Association and the Tonga Rugby Union.

Dr Sevele was formerly an Asian Development Bank consultant to theCentral Planning Department, Government of Tonga; a residentconsultant and adviser to the ANZ Bank; chief economist for the SouthPacific Commission; chief executive and director of the CommoditiesBoard of Tonga; and a member of the Council of the University of theSouth Pacific.

Dr Sevele obtained his Doctorate in Development Economics from theUniversity of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, under aCommonwealth scholarship. Dr Sevele also has a Master’s degree, andBachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and Economic Geography from thesame university.

Dr Sevele was born on 7 July 1944 in Ma’ufanga, Nuku’alofa.

CAPITAL:Nuku’alofa

LAND AREA:750 sq km

POPULATION:102,000

CURRENCY:Pa’anga orTongan dollar

ECONOMY:Agriculture, fisheriesand tourism

Website: www.pmo.gov.to

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

The Hon Patrick Augustus Mervyn ManningPRIME MINISTER

The Hon Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning was re-elected PrimeMinister of Trinidad and Tobago in the November 2007 generalelection. He had earlier served a five-year term as Prime Minister fromOctober 2002. Mr Manning first took office from 1991 to 1995 and from2001 to 2002.

Mr Manning was Leader of the Opposition from 1995 to 2001, and from1986 to 1990. He was elected Leader of the People’s NationalMovement (PNM) in 1986.

From 1981 to 1985, Mr Manning was Minister of Industry andCommerce, Information, Energy and Natural Resources. From 1978 to1981, he was Minister in the Ministry of Finance.

Mr Manning became a Member of Parliament in 1971 under the PNMticket and became Parliamentary Secretary in various ministries,including Petroleum and Mines (1971 to 1973), Planning andDevelopment (1973 to 1974), Industry and Commerce (1974 to 1976)and Works, Transport and Communications (1976 to 1978).

Mr Manning has a Bachelor’s degree in Geology from the University ofthe West Indies, Jamaica.

He was born on 17 August 1946 in San Fernando, Trinidad.

CAPITAL:Port of Spain

CURRENCY:Trinidad andTobago dollar

ECONOMY:Agriculture, oil andgas, and tourism

STATUS:Republic

Website: www.opm.gov.tt

The Hon Apisai Ielemia was sworn in as Prime Minister of Tuvaluon 14 August 2006 following his victory in the general election on3 August.

He is concurrently Minister for Foreign Affairs and Labour.

CAPITAL:Funafuti

LAND AREA:26 sq km

POPULATION:11,000

GDP GROWTH:2% p.a.

Website: www.tuvaluislands.com

TUVALU

The Hon Apisai IelemiaPRIME MINISTER

UGANDA

HE Mr Yoweri Kaguta MuseveniPRESIDENT

HE Mr Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was re-elected as President of Ugandain February 2006. He first became President in January 1986 and wasthe first directly elected President of Uganda in the 1996 election.He was re-elected in 2001.

He is Chair of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), which heco-founded in 1981.

Mr Museveni had served briefly as Minister of Defence, Minister ofRegional Co-operation and Vice-Chair of the Military Commission inprevious administrations.

He and several others formed the NRM and the National ResistanceArmy (NRA) in the early 1980s. The NRA has evolved into the UgandaPeople’s Defence Forces today. Mr Museveni was also instrumental informing the Front for National Salvation, one of the core Ugandanguerrilla groups involved in a liberation struggle in the 1970s.

Mr Museveni has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Sciencefrom the University of Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania.

He was born in 1944 in Ntungamo, Uganda.

CAPITAL:Kampala

CURRENCY:Uganda shilling

ECONOMY:Agriculture andmining

Website: www.statehouse.go.ug

CAPITAL:London

CURRENCY:Pound sterling

ECONOMY:Financial services,manufacturing andtourism

The Rt Hon Gordon Brown became Prime Minister on 27 June 2007after becoming leader of the Labour Party.

Mr Brown was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1997 to June 2007. Hewas Shadow Chancellor from 1992 to 1997; Shadow Trade and Industryspokesperson from 1989 to 1992; Shadow Chief Secretary to theTreasury from 1987 to 1989; and Opposition Spokesperson for Tradeand Industry from 1985 to 1987.

Mr Brown became a Member of Parliament in 1983 and Chair of theLabour Party’s Scottish Council.

He worked as a journalist for Scottish TV from 1980 to 1983. Beforethat, from 1976 to 1980, Mr Brown lectured at the University ofEdinburgh and Caledonian University. He served as Rector of theUniversity of Edinburgh from 1972 to 1975.

Mr Brown has a Doctorate in History from the University of Edinburgh,Scotland, United Kingdom.

He has authored several books, including a biography of theIndependent Labour Party politician, James Maxton, titled Maxton: ABiography (1986); Values, Visions and Voices: An Anthology of Socialism(1995); and Scotland: The Real Divide (1987), which was co-written withthe late Foreign Secretary Robin Cook. More recently, a collection of MrBrown’s speeches has been published as Moving Britain Forward; aswell as Courage – Eight Portraits (2007), which looks at eight of hisheroes and the influence they have had.

Mr Brown was born on 20 February 1951 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Website: www.number10.gov.uk

UNITED KINGDOM

The Rt Hon Gordon BrownPRIME MINISTER

UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA

HE Mr Jakaya Mrisho KikwetePRESIDENT

HE Mr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete was sworn in as the fourth President ofthe United Republic of Tanzania on 21 December 2005 following victoryin the presidential and parliamentary elections held on 14 December.

On 26 June 2006, he was elected Chairperson of the ruling Chama ChaMapinduzi (Party of the Revolution).

Before becoming president, Mr Kikwete served as Minister of ForeignAffairs and International Co-operation from 1995 to 2005.He was Minister of Finance from 1994 to 1995; and Minister of Water,Energy and Minerals from 1990 to 1994.

Mr Kikwete was nominated as a Member of Parliament in 1988 andheld the post of Deputy Minister of Energy from 1988 to 1990.

He attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1991 after serving in themilitary in 1972 as a Lieutenant. During this period, Mr Kikwetereceived training at the Monduli Military Officers’ College in 1983 andwas promoted to Major and Chief Political Instructor of the TanzanianPeople’s Defence Force in 1984.

Mr Kikwete has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Universityof Dar es Salaam.

He was born on 7 October 1950 in Msoga, Bagamoyo District, UnitedRepublic of Tanzania.

INDEPENDENCEDAY:9 December 1961

CAPITAL:Dar es Salaam

CURRENCY:Tanzanian shilling

Website: www.tanzania.go.tz

The Hon Edward Nipake Natapei took office as Prime Minister ofVanuatu in September 2008 following the victory of the Vanua’aku Patiat the 2 September general election. He previously served as PrimeMinister from 2001 to 2004.

Mr Natapei is concurrently Minister of Public Service.

He served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Public Utilitiesfrom 2007 to August 2008 during the Ham Lini administration. From2005 to 2007 Mr Natapei was Minister for Infrastructure and PublicUtilities.

He was Leader of the Opposition in 2000 after being elected Leader ofVanua’aku Pati in 1999. Mr Natapei was Acting President for a briefperiod from 2 to 24 March 1999. He was Speaker of Parliament from1996 to 1999, and was briefly Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1991.

Mr Natapei was first elected to Parliament in 1983. Prior to that, he wasFirst Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Commerce, Industry and Tourism in1982.

Mr Natapei is a graduate of the Fiji Institute of Technology, Suva,Fiji Islands.

He was born on 17 July 1954.

CAPITAL:Port Vila

POPULATION:230,000

CURRENCY:Vatu

ECONOMY:Agriculture andlivestock farming

STATUS:Republic

Website: www.vanuatugovernment.gov.vu

VANUATU

The Hon Edward Nipake NatapeiPRIME MINISTER

ZAMBIA

HE Mr Rupiah Bwezani BandaPRESIDENT

HE Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda was voted into office in the October 2008presidential by-election on the Movement for Multi-Party Democracyticket.

He was appointed Vice-President in 2006 in the Levy Mwanawasaadministration and took on the latter’s duties when PresidentMwanawasa suffered a stroke in June 2008. Mr Mwanawasa died inAugust 2008.

Mr Banda was elected to Parliament in 1978 as a United NationalIndependence Party (UNIP) representative, and was re-elected in 1983.

He was previously Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1975 to 1976, andalso served as Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the UnitedNations, and Ambassador to the USA and Egypt.

Before taking on a diplomatic career, Mr Banda was Chief Executive ofthe National Agriculture Marketing Board and the Rural DevelopmentCorporation.

He joined the UNIP in 1963.

Mr Banda has a Bachelor’s degree in Economic History from LundUniversity, Sweden.

He was born on 19 February 1937.

CAPITAL:Lusaka

GDP GROWTH:6% p.a.

CURRENCY:Kwacha

Website: www.statehouse.gov.zm

CHOGM2009TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

Communications and Public Affairs DivisionCommonwealth SecretariatMarlborough HousePall MallLondon SW1Y 5HXUnited KingdomTel: +44 (0)20 7747 6385/86Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081Email: info@commonwealth.intWeb: www.thecommonwealth.org

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