On February 7, 2008, a general legislative election and national referendum on the Belizean senate took place. Dean Barrow's opposition United Democratic Party won a landslide victory to end former Prime Minister Said Musa's ten years in office.
Referendum
The first ever referendum in Belize was held the same day as the election and asked the question: "Should the Senate of Belize be elected?" Since Belize gained its independence from England in 1981, all twelve members of the Senate had been appointed and the referendum was seen as a way to let citizens decide whether they wanted more control in choosing their country's representatives. The referendum results showed that 61.54% of Belizeans were in favor of an elected senate.
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
On February 8, 2008 Dean Barrow was sworn in as Belize's new Prime Minister
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Fact:
Barrow's United Democratic Party won 25 of the 31 seats in the House of Representatives
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Fact:
First election to select 31 members to the House of Representatives instead of 29
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Fact:
Seven different parties ran campaigns for the election
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Fact:
Barrow became Belize's first black Prime Minister
