Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BELMOPAN74
2008-02-11 14:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Belmopan
Cable title:
BIO -- BELIZE PRIME MINISTER DEAN BARROW
how-toVZCZCXRO4867 RR RUEHGR DE RUEHBE #0074 0421405 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 111405Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY BELMOPAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1072 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICA COLLECTIVE RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BELMOPAN 000074
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR WHA/CEN - ROIS BEAL, INR/B
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR BH
SUBJECT: BIO -- BELIZE PRIME MINISTER DEAN BARROW
REF: 07 BELMOPAN 0287
UNCLAS BELMOPAN 000074
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR WHA/CEN - ROIS BEAL, INR/B
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR BH
SUBJECT: BIO -- BELIZE PRIME MINISTER DEAN BARROW
REF: 07 BELMOPAN 0287
1. Dean Oliver Barrow was elected Prime Minister of Belize on
February 7, 2008. Following is his biography.
Address as: Mr. Prime Minister, Prime Minister Barrow
Full Title: The Honourable Dean Barrow
DPOB: March 2, 1951, Belize City
2. Education:
Barrow received his Bachelor of Law degree from the University of
the West Indies (1973) and his legal Education Certificate from
Norman Manley Law School, Jamaica (1975). He earned his Master of
Law and Master of Arts in International Relations degrees from the
University of Miami, Florida in 1982.
3. Career/Employment:
He entered private practice in 1975 as an associate with Lindo's Law
Firm and was admitted to Belize Bar in 1976. In 1977, he became a
partner of this firm. He is considered to be one of Belize's most
successful lawyers and has been involved in many prominent cases in
Belize. In 1989, Barrow left to become a partner at his own law
firm, Barrow and Williams. In May 2007, Barrow left his practice to
focus on his political activities in preparation for the 2008
general elections.
4. Political Affiliation/Work:
Barrow has been involved in politics since at least 1976, when he
became legal counsel to the United Democratic Party. He was elected
to the House of Representatives in December 1984, after his first
electoral win in the Queen Square division. Barrow has run in six
elections and has never lost his Queen's Square division and has
never moved out of this constituency. During the period 1993-1998,
he was called "Minister of Everything" because of his involvement in
many of the UDP's activities.
He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Economic Development
from 1984 to 1989 and as Attorney General in 1986. He was also
Deputy Leader of the United Democratic Party in 1990 and served as
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, National
Security and Attorney General from 1993 to 1998. Barrow has been
the Leader of the United Democratic Party since September 1998.
In the 2008 General Elections held February 7, 2008, the UDP won 25
of the 31 seats in the House of Representative, making him Prime
Minister Designate at this time. It is expected that the
Governor-General will officially swear Barrow in as the fourth Prime
Minister of Belize sometime today, February 8. Barrow has said that
he will most likely announce his Cabinet on Tuesday, February 12.
5. Family:
Barrow is the father of four children, including Jamaal "Shyne"
Barrow, who was sentenced on June 1, 2001, to ten years in prison
for his involvement in a December 27, 1999, nightclub shooting in
New York which left three people wounded. He is divorced from local
attorney Lois Young, who is the mother of two of his children.
Barrow is now in a common-law relationship with Ms. Kim Simplis, a
founding member and director of Lifeline Foundation, a philanthropic
charity which raises money to benefit children in need of assistance
in the form of feeding programs, medical care, and educational
materials. He has one daughter with Ms. Simplis.
6. Other:
Barrow speaks English and Spanish.
A photo of Dean Barrow can be found at the UDP website --
udp.org.bz; or http://www. governmentofbelize. gov.bz legislative_
houseofrep.html (without the spaces).
HILL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR WHA/CEN - ROIS BEAL, INR/B
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR BH
SUBJECT: BIO -- BELIZE PRIME MINISTER DEAN BARROW
REF: 07 BELMOPAN 0287
1. Dean Oliver Barrow was elected Prime Minister of Belize on
February 7, 2008. Following is his biography.
Address as: Mr. Prime Minister, Prime Minister Barrow
Full Title: The Honourable Dean Barrow
DPOB: March 2, 1951, Belize City
2. Education:
Barrow received his Bachelor of Law degree from the University of
the West Indies (1973) and his legal Education Certificate from
Norman Manley Law School, Jamaica (1975). He earned his Master of
Law and Master of Arts in International Relations degrees from the
University of Miami, Florida in 1982.
3. Career/Employment:
He entered private practice in 1975 as an associate with Lindo's Law
Firm and was admitted to Belize Bar in 1976. In 1977, he became a
partner of this firm. He is considered to be one of Belize's most
successful lawyers and has been involved in many prominent cases in
Belize. In 1989, Barrow left to become a partner at his own law
firm, Barrow and Williams. In May 2007, Barrow left his practice to
focus on his political activities in preparation for the 2008
general elections.
4. Political Affiliation/Work:
Barrow has been involved in politics since at least 1976, when he
became legal counsel to the United Democratic Party. He was elected
to the House of Representatives in December 1984, after his first
electoral win in the Queen Square division. Barrow has run in six
elections and has never lost his Queen's Square division and has
never moved out of this constituency. During the period 1993-1998,
he was called "Minister of Everything" because of his involvement in
many of the UDP's activities.
He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Economic Development
from 1984 to 1989 and as Attorney General in 1986. He was also
Deputy Leader of the United Democratic Party in 1990 and served as
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, National
Security and Attorney General from 1993 to 1998. Barrow has been
the Leader of the United Democratic Party since September 1998.
In the 2008 General Elections held February 7, 2008, the UDP won 25
of the 31 seats in the House of Representative, making him Prime
Minister Designate at this time. It is expected that the
Governor-General will officially swear Barrow in as the fourth Prime
Minister of Belize sometime today, February 8. Barrow has said that
he will most likely announce his Cabinet on Tuesday, February 12.
5. Family:
Barrow is the father of four children, including Jamaal "Shyne"
Barrow, who was sentenced on June 1, 2001, to ten years in prison
for his involvement in a December 27, 1999, nightclub shooting in
New York which left three people wounded. He is divorced from local
attorney Lois Young, who is the mother of two of his children.
Barrow is now in a common-law relationship with Ms. Kim Simplis, a
founding member and director of Lifeline Foundation, a philanthropic
charity which raises money to benefit children in need of assistance
in the form of feeding programs, medical care, and educational
materials. He has one daughter with Ms. Simplis.
6. Other:
Barrow speaks English and Spanish.
A photo of Dean Barrow can be found at the UDP website --
udp.org.bz; or http://www. governmentofbelize. gov.bz legislative_
houseofrep.html (without the spaces).
HILL