BIO -- BELIZE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF

UNCLAS BELMOPAN 000103 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR WHA/CEN - ROIS BEAL, INR/B E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PINR BH SUBJECT: BIO -- BELIZE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT GASPAR VEGA REF: 07 BELMOPAN 0287 ¶1. Gaspar Vega was appointed by Prime Minister Dean Barrow to cabinet on Monday, February 11, 2008. Following is his biography. Address as: Minister Vega, Mr. Minister Full Title: The Honorable Gaspar Vega POB: San Estevan Village, Orange Walk District ¶2. Education: Vega graduated from Muffles College, Orange Walk District, Belize in ¶1975. ¶3. Employment: During the late 1970's and early 1980's he worked with Royal Bank of Canada (now the Belize Bank) in Belize. Subsequently, he lived and worked in the United States. In 1992 he opened his own dry goods distribution business in Orange Walk, Belize which he continues to manage. ¶4. Political Affiliation: Vega is a relative new comer to the political arena. He has nonetheless moved quickly up the ranks of the UDP. In 2005, he convincingly won the UDP's Orange Walk North Convention and in May of 2006 he won the Deputy leadership at the party's national convention. ¶5. Family: Vega is married and is the father of five children, three of whom were born in the United States. ¶6. Other: He is fluent in both English and Spanish. DIETER