Patrick Joseph Manarewo Kalpuaso Crowby, born 6 July 1958 in Port Vila, is a ni-Vanuatu politician.[1]
He began his career as a primary school teacher in 1978.[2]
In 1987, he obtained a title as customary chief. In 1991, he became a member of the National Bureau of Tourism. He would subsequently preside over the Bureau from 2007 to 2008.[3]
In 1992, he was appointed president of a sub-committee of the Union of Moderate Parties, a francophone political party; Crowby himself is a francophone. In 1997, now representing the National United Party,[4] he became mayor of Port Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu, a position he held until 2004. He subsequently remained a city councillor until 2006.[5] Transparency International Vanuatu accused him of "mismanagement and corruption" during his term.[6]
From 2004 to 2008, he served as the Prime Minister's public relations officer, and government spokesman.[7] During that same time, he was also President of Vanuatu's Broadcasting and Television Corporation, and permanent representative of Vanuatu to the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie.[8]
In 2008, he was elected to Parliament,[9] and was appointed Minister for Internal Affairs in Prime Minister Edward Natapei's Cabinet[10], though he was subsequently dismissed during a Cabinet reshuffle. He returned to government in April 2011, when Prime Minister Sato Kilman (who had ousted Natapei in a vote of no confidence in December 2010) was in turn ousted in a vote of no confidence, and succeeded by Serge Vohor. Vohor appointed Crowby Minister for Internal Affairs.[11] Three weeks later, however, Vohor's election and premiership were voided by the Court of Appeal, and Crowby lost his position in government.[12] On 16 June, Kilman's election and premiership were themselves voided by the Supreme Court, on constitutional grounds, and previous Prime Minister Edward Natapei became caretaker Prime Minister until a new leader could be elected. Crowby was restored as caretaker Minister of the Interior.[13]