Pennelope Beckles-Robinson

Pennelope Althea Beckles-Robinson MP (née Beckles; born 12 September 1961) is a Trinidadian attorney and politician who has been the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the People's National Movement since 2025. She has served as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Representatives for Arima since the 2020 general election. Previously she was the country's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, as well as Minister of Planning and Development.

Early life and education Beckles was born on 12 September 1961 in Borde Narve Village, three months before parliament history was created in Trinidad and Tobago growing up without electricity or running water. Her father, Lionel Beckles, worked for the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union and she has four brothers and one sister. She attended St Raphael's Grade School and St Joseph's Convent, San Fernando. She was appointed Minister for Social Development in 2001, Minister for Culture and Tourism in 2002, and Minister for Public Utilities and the Environment in 2003. In the 2014 People's National Movement leadership election, Beckles unsuccessfully challenged Rowley for the leadership of the party. On 4 February 2015, she was rejected in her bid to represent the PNM for the constituency of Arima in the 2015 general election.

Beckles was appointed Trinidad and Tobago's Permanent Representative to the UN by Prime Minister Rowley in August 2016. She postponed taking up the appointment to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Patrick Manning in July.

She was appointed as Minister of Planning and Development on 16 March 2022 following a cabinet reshuffle.

Following the 2025 Trinidad and Tobago general election on 30 April 2025, she was selected to be Leader of the Opposition within the People's National Movement by a slim 7-6 margin. She is the PNM's first female opposition leader.

Personal life Beckles married Noel Robinson in December 2008, and she has four stepchildren. She also became the guardian of her ten-year-old niece after her sister Michelle died in 2015.

Electoral history