Terrance Drew
Quick Facts
Biography
Terrance Michael Drew (born 22 November 1976) is a Kittitian medical doctor and politician who is the fourth and current prime minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, having been elected to the National Assembly in the 5 August 2022 general election.
Dr. Drew is the son of Ras Gerzel Pet Mills and Michael ‘Mic Stokes’ Heyliger.He graduated from the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College in 1996. At the age of 19, he was a part time teacher at the Basseterre High School. In 1998, he went to Cuba to study medicine, and graduated from the Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara in Santa Clara. Drew then returned to Saint Kitts to work as a general practitioner. He later went to Texas to study internal medicine, and graduated from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in 2013.
He was elected as the leader of Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party on November 28, 2021, where he garnered a mere 45% of the votes cast at the St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party local conference.
The Drew ministry was sworn in on 15 August 2022, and Drew took over the portfolio of Minister of Finance for himself.
Stance on Monarchy
In 2023, following the coronation of King Charles III, Prime Minister Drew stated that St. Kitts could not be completely free as long as an English monarch ruled as the head of state.
Drew stated that his government would take public consultation regarding the republic movement.
Drew also demanded an apology from the British Monarchy in regard to their role in the slave trade.
Crime and Public Safety Challenges in St. Kitts and Nevis (2023)
In a tragic turn, St. Kitts and Nevis face a surge in violent crimes, marking the 31st homicide for 2023 with Marius Webbe's recent shooting near his home. This contradicts Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew's touted crime management strategies, as discussed during the recently concluded CARICOM Regional Symposium on “Crime and Violence as a Public Health Issue”. The stark rise, compared to the previous administration's success with the PEACE programme, raises questions about the effectiveness of the transition to the new initiative, "Elevate." Urgent calls for a comprehensive approach to address crime's root causes underscore the need for renewed efforts in ensuring the islands' safety and well-being.