Faris Al-Rawi Explained

Faris Al-Rawi
Office:Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago
Term Start:9 September 2015
Term End:16 March 2022[1]
Predecessor:Garvin Nicholas
Successor:Reginald Armour[2]
Office2:Member of Parliament, House of Representatives
Constituency2:San Fernando West
Term Start2:7 September 2015
Predecessor2:Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan
Majority2:3,310 (19.39%)
Birth Date:2 May 1971
Birth Place:San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
Party:People's National Movement
Spouse:Mona Nahous
Children:Abraham Al-Rawi, Jinan Al-Rawi, Julia Al-Rawi
Alma Mater:University of the West Indies
King's College London

Faris Al-Rawi is a Trinidadian and Tobagonian politician. He was the former Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago from 2015 to 2022.[3] He is also a Member of the House of Representatives for the constituency of San Fernando West.

Early life

Faris Al-Rawi, was born in San Fernando. He is the son of Husam Al-Rawi[4] and Diane Seukeran.[5] His father is a Muslim Iraqi Arab, while his mother, a Presbyterian Indo-Trinidadian, also represented the San Fernando West constituency in Parliament. His maternal grandfather, Lionel Frank Seukeran, served in Parliament as a member of the Democratic Labour Party, a former opposing party of the People's National Movement and predecessor to the United National Congress. His maternal great-grandfather was Pundit Seukeran Sharma, a Hindu priest, from Tableland, Princes Town, Trinidad and Tobago.[6]

Al-Rawi was educated at Presentation College, San Fernando, the University of the West Indies and completed a master's degree in Law at King's College London.[7]

Al-Rawi claims descent from the Islamic Prophet Muhammad through his Iraqi father, but he is noted for his relaxed religious views and mixed religious background.[8] He has described himself as "the son of an Iraqi Muslim man and a Trinidadian Presbyterian woman and a Hindu [maternal] grandfather". He is married to Mona Nahous who is a Catholic of Arab descent. He has also said he has fasted for Divali, Ramadan, and Lent and calls himself a "child of God" when asked what his religion was. He has said he has never eaten pork and that alcohol is not for him.

Political career

Al-Rawi entered politics in 1995 as a legal advisor to the Tunapuna – Piarco Regional Corporation.[9] He served as an Alderman in the Port of Spain City Corporation between 2003 and 2006 and was appointed an Opposition Senator in 2010.[10] Al-Rawi contested San Fernando West constituency in the 2015 General Election, beating Raziah Ahmed of the United National Congress.[11] Newly elected Prime Minister Keith Rowley appointed Al-Rawi as Attorney-General and he served from 2015 to 2022.

Controversy

In October 2016 Al-Rawi's children were photographed in possession of high powered military grade assault rifles. He responded that they were receiving training from the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force in response to unreported death threats. The fact of their training was confirmed by the Defence Force.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Trinidad and Tobago Parliament .
  2. Web site: Trinidad and Tobago Parliament .
  3. Web site: The Honorable Faris Al-Rawi, Attorney General of Trinidad & Tobago. Ministry of the Attorney General. 5 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20151227023306/http://www.ag.gov.tt/AG-Corner/Biography-of-the-AG. 27 December 2015. dead.
  4. News: Al-Rawi stands firm by his statement. 2014-07-17. Daily Express. 2017-09-20. en-TT. https://web.archive.org/web/20180215213608/http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Al-Rawi-stands-firm-by-his-statement-267596121.html. 2018-02-15. dead.
  5. Web site: Al-Rawi: Who says I am an outsider?. The Trinidad Guardian . Geisha Kowlessar. 2017-09-20.
  6. Book: Post-Colonial Trinidad: An Ethnographic Journal. 9780230106857. Clarke. C.. 24 May 2010.
  7. Web site: PM, AG TAKE OATH TODAY. Andre Bagoo. Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. 9 September 2015. 5 January 2016.
  8. https://www.economist.com/news/americas/21718564-sources-tension-include-child-marriage-and-terrorism-mostly-people-get-fine-how "How the 19th-century flow of indentured workers shapes the Caribbean"
  9. Web site: People's National Movement Trinidad and Tobago - Senator Faris Al-Rawi. www.pnm.org.tt. en-gb. 2017-09-20.
  10. Web site: The Honourable Faris Al-Rawi, MP Trinidad and Tobago Government News. www.news.gov.tt. en. 2017-09-20.
  11. http://www.ebctt.com/wp-content/uploads/Results-of-the-Parliamentary-Election-Held-on-Monday-7th-September-2015.xlsx Elections and Boundaries Commission, official results (xlsx)