Keith Claudius Mitchell was born to Dowlyn and Catherine Mitchell in the tiny west coast village of Brizan on November 12th, 1946. He shares his life with his wife Marietta and their son, Olinga. He received his primary education at the Happy Hill R.C. School and the J.W. Fletcher Memorial School. He went on to the Presentation Brothers College then to the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, where he gained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics and Chemistry, followed by a Masters Degree from Howard University and a Doctorate in Mathematics and Statistics from the American University.

This avid cricketer was a member of the Grenada Cricket Team and in 1973 became its Captain as well as that of the combined Windward and Leeward Youth Cricket Team. He taught at the Presentation Brothers College and was a Mathematics Professor at Howard University. He also worked a professional consultant to many Government Departments and private corporations in the United States.

In 1984, he was elected Member of Parliament for St. George North West, and has held it ever since, becoming the longest serving member of the House. In 1989 he was elected Political Leader of the NNP and successfully led the party to victory in 1995. During his first term as Prime Minister he served as Minister of National Security and was the holder of nine other portfolios. His untiring hard work and dedication paid off when in the 1999 General Elections, he lead the NNP into winning all fifteen Constituencies and became the first Prime Minister since Independence to win two consecutive General Elections.