Dr the Honourable Navinchandra Ramgoolam has had a long history in the political sector, with multiple successions as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius.
As Leader of the Mauritius Labour Party, his first election victory came in 1995. Five years later, he returned to Leader of the Opposition before again becoming Prime Minister in 2005. He also held the Offices of Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications.
During his time as Prime Minister, he invited a team of forensics specialists from Staffordshire University to help develop crime detection skills in Mauritius. Staffordshire University was also instrumental in securing European funds to support the University of Mauritius in the field of Forensic Science with a view to offering effective education programmes to benefit the people of Mauritius and its neighbours - creating a centre of education excellence in the Indian Ocean.
The son of the first Prime Minister of independent Mauritius, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam’s career started in medicine. He began studying at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin in 1968 and qualified as a doctor seven years later.
He undertook an internship at St Laurence’s Hospital, Dublin and Monaghan County Hospital before returning to Mauritius to practise as a Medical Officer. A year later he became a Clinical Assistant in Cardiology at the University College Hospital, London.
Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam later worked as Resident Medical Officer at the Yorkshire Clinic in Bingley, West Yorkshire, and then as a General Practitioner in Mauritius.
Following a successful medical career, he took up legal studies and enrolled at the London School of Economics and Political Science. In 1990 he completed his LLB and later followed a Vocation Course at the Inns of Court School of Law, and was called to the UK Bar in 1993.
It was during this time, in 1991, that he embarked on his political career – taking on the role of Leader of the Mauritius Labour Party, being elected as a Member of the National Assembly and becoming Leader of the Opposition.
In December 2014, he resigned as Prime Minister of Mauritius.
Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam and his wife, Veena Brizmohun, share a common passion in the welfare of the poor and vulnerable groups in society. They are also great animal lovers.
The Award of Honorary Doctor of Staffordshire University is bestowed upon Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam in recognition of his leadership in governance, the development of forensic knowledge and skills in dealing with law and order, as well as his commitment to multiculturalism and community cohesion and tackling poverty through education.