Dean Barrow is the current Prime Minister of Belize. He ascended to the post after his United Democratic Party won 25 of 31 seats in the Belizean House of Representatives in elections in February 7, 2008.
Fast Facts:
- Born: March 2, 1951
- School: St. Michael's College, University of West Indies
- Law School: Norman Manley Law School, University of Miami
- Graduate School: M.A., International Relations, University of Miami
- Children: Four
- Assumed office: February 8, 2008
- Leader of the United Democratic Party
- Trained as a lawyer
- Served as foreign minister from 1993 to 1998
Early Life
Barrow attended law school in both Jamaica and the United States, and became a successful lawyer upon returning to Belize.
Political Career
Barrow entered politics in 1983 and in 1984 became the nation's Minister of Foreign Affairs. In subsequent years, Barrow was the Leader of the Opposition, a post reserved for the individual who, under the Belizean Constitution, "commands the support of those elected officials who do not support the government." His party's victory in 2008 ousted the People's United Party and Prime Minister Said Musa from power. Barrow is the Caribbean nation's first black Prime Minister.
Dean Barrow News and Information
- Reuters: Belize decides on veteran Musa's fate in election | International | Reuters (February 7, 2008)
- Miami Herald: Belize's ruling party vulnerable in vote (February 6, 2008)
- Caribbean World News: "Belizeans Go To The Polls Tomorrow" (February 6, 2008)
- Love FM News: "UDP Leader Dean Barro Speaks on National Issues..." (Februaray 4, 2008)
- Angus Reid: Opposition Leads in Belize Ahead of Ballot (February 1, 2008)
- Amandala News: "Amandala Interviews Opposition Leader Dean Barrow" (January 25, 2008)
- Amandala News: "UDP Leader's Endorsement of African and Mayan History" (January 22, 2008)
- "Mr. Dean Barrow, on Sunday morning made an unprecedented public announcement of support for the African and Mayan history project...Mr. Barrow went on to say that he had declined to express support in the past because of his feeling that he was being pressured to do so...it has to be our assumption that the past he was referring to has been his time as Leader of the Opposition, which is a matter of just the last ten years"
- Love FM News: "Dean Barrow Meets With Both Methodist and Anglican Churches" (January 16, 2008)
