A man of humble origins, Sir Louis Hilton Straker was born in the village of Layou on 23 February 1944 to Bertram Augustus Straker and Pearlina Lockhart. He attended the Layou Government School and Emmanuel High School. He went on to receive higher education at Hunger College, City University of New York where he received a B.A. in political science and he received a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) from Long Island University.

Sir Louis started a career in teaching at the Layou Government School, but left after eighteen months to pursue higher education in the United States of America. He obtained a BA in Political Science from Hunter College, City University of New York, and then a MA in Business Administration from Long Island University. He later worked for the Chemical Bank of New York, (now Chase Manhattan), and retired after 25 years of service to that institution.

In 1994, he contested the General Elections on a Unity Labour Party (ULP) ticket and became the Member of Parliament for the Central Leeward Constituency. He was re-elected in the 1998 general elections, and again on 28 March 2001.  On 1 April 2001, Straker was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Commerce and Trade.  In May 2005, he was appointed as Minister of Transport, Works, and Housing.  He was returned as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Commerce and Trade after successfully contesting the December, 2005 General Elections.

He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in December 2005.

In 2010, Sir Louis bowed out of politics.  However, in 2015, he was selected to represent the ULP in the Central Leeward constituency in the general election.