BELIZE: UPDATED BIO OF NEW MINISTER OF FOREIGN

UNCLAS BELIZE 000369 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN - JASON MACK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR BH SUBJECT: BELIZE: UPDATED BIO OF NEW MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE REF: A) BELIZE 341; B) BELIZE 270 ¶1. (SBU) Eamon Harrison Courtenay, DOB: 11 June 1960, married to Denise Courtenay (nee Mitchell) with two children: Gavin Harrison and Alyson Giselle, was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 11 APR 2006 and re-appointed Senator on 18 APR 2006. From 2003 to August 2004 Courtenay held a cabinet position as Attorney General and Minister of Trade. In August 2004 Courtenay joined six other Ministers and resigned his cabinet position in protest over the Prime Minister's support of then Minister of Finance Ralph Fonseca (REF A). Courtenay hails from a prominent Belizean family. He started his professional career in Belize working in the prestigious law firm that his grandfather, and one-time Speaker of the House, W.H. Courtenay started. Courtenay's father, V.H. Courtenay, was also an elected representative in the National Assembly, Senator and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1984-1989. ¶2. (SBU) In February 2006, after less than a year under the wing of Belize Bank Courtenay returned to politics as Chairman of the new Petroleum Advisory Board to Cabinet, where he: started re-negotiation of terms for oil exploration in Belize; advised government to exercise a purchase option for a ten percent equity stake in Belize's only oil strike to date; and began re-evaluation of laws surrounding social benefits of petroleum gains (REF B). ¶3. (SBU) Curriculum Vitae: ¶1. 1981-1984: University of Texas at Austin, Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies: Economics and Government. Member, national honor and leadership society - Omicron Delta Kappa. ¶2. 1984-1986: University of the West Indies, Bachelor of Laws, Second Class Honors. ¶3. 1986-1988: Norman Manley Law School, Certificate of Legal Education. ¶4. 1988-1999: Attorney-at-Law, W.H. Courtenay & Co., Attorneys-at-Law, Belize City, Belize. In 1999, Courtenay was elevated to the status of Senior Counsel for distinction in the practice of law. ¶5. 1999-2003: Ambassador (at large) for Trade and Investment. ¶6. 2003-2004: Attorney General and Minister of Trade. Appointed Senator. ¶7. 2004-2006: Deputy Chairman Belize Bank Ltd of BB Holdings Belize. Chairman of Petroleum Advisory Board to Cabinet. ¶4. Please address any questions to Post Biographic File Coordinator POLOFF Brian S. DaRin, email:darinbs@state.gov; Tel: 011-501-227-7161 ext. 205 DIETER