Hon. Rupert Herbert (Minister)

 

 

 

 

Rupert Emanuel Herbert was born in Old Road, St. Kitts on 19th February 1936. He received his primary education at the Old Road and Middle Island Elementary Schools. After completing primary school and obtaining the Standard VII Certificate, he entered the teaching profession as a pupil teacher at the Middle Island Elementary School.

 

Shortly thereafter he won a competitive scholarship to the St. Kitts/Nevis Grammar School, which he attended during the period 1950 to 1952. After graduating he was employed as an Assistant Teacher at the Dieppe Bay Elementary School. He subsequently wrote and passed the required Assistant Teachers' Examinations.

 

In 1959 he received his teacher training at the Leeward Islands Teachers' Training College in Antigua, graduating with several distinctions. He returned to St. Kitts and was assigned to the Basseterre Boys' School as a Trained Teacher.

 

He was an active member of the Old Road Methodist Church. At different times he held the position of President of both the Junior and Wesley Guilds, and was the first Captain of the Old Road Branch of the Boy's Brigade.

 

He immigrated to England in August 1960 with the intention of furthering his education. He worked in several private sector companies while endeavoring to achieve University entrance status through correspondence courses with Rapid Results College.

 

In 1965 he entered the University of Hull to read for the B.Sci (Econ) Degree. He graduated in 1968 and entered the University of Leeds to read for the Post Graduate Certificate in Education. He graduated in June 1969.

 

He then continued his teaching career in Sierre Leone, West Africa where he was employed as a Graduate Teacher from 1969 to 1973 teaching Economics and Government. While there, he rose to the position of Senior Teacher.

 

He was involved in extra-curricular activities of the school, reviving the Boys Scout movement and participating in the administration of the Youth Fellowship attached to the school. He was also involved in extra-mural work teaching economics.

 

Mr Herbert returned to St. Kitts in December 1973 to take up an appointment at the Basseterre Junior High School as a Graduate Teacher. After one year he was appointed as Education Officer for Primary Schools. In September 1975 he was transferred to the Basseterre High School as Principal, a position he held until August 1979, when he was transferred to the Labour Department as Acting Labour Commissioner, a position he held until August 1984.

 

During his stint in the Labour Department he attended many workshops and seminars on labour-related themes. He also attended a course in Management of Costs and Management Time at the University Centre, Basseterre.

 

Mr Herbert returned to his first love, Education, when in September 1984 he was appointed Education Officer with responsibility for Examinations, retiring from the Public Service in that position in July 1991.

 

After retiring Mr Herbert entered politics. He was elected to office in July 1995 and was appointed Minister of Education, Labour and Social Security. After the March 2000 elections in which he was again elected, he was given the portfolio of Minister of Communications, Works and Public Utilities.

 

In a re-shuffle of portfolios in late 2001, he was assigned to the Ministry of Social Development, Community and Genders Affairs. During the 2004 General Elections, Honourable Rupert Herbert was re-elected and appointed as Minister of Health.

 

Mr Herbert continues to be an active participant in the work of the Old Road Methodist Church, being a class leader and member of the Senior Choir and Mens Fellowship. He loves music and plays the tenor pan.

 

He is a Jack-of-All-Trades, mastering many.

 

Mr Herbert is married with five (5) children.