BIO -- BELIZE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN

UNCLAS BELMOPAN 000082 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR WHA/CEN - ROIS BEAL, INR/B E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PINR BH SUBJECT: BIO -- BELIZE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN TRADE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL WILFRED ELRINGTON ¶1. Wilfred Elrington was appointed by Prime Minister Dean Barrow to cabinet on Monday, February 11, 2008. Following is his biography. To be addressed as: Mr. Minister or Minister Elrington More commonly known as: "Sedi" Elrington POB: Pickstock, Belize City, Belize ¶2. Education: St. Michael's College Saint John's Junior College University of the West Indies (Law) ¶3. Career/ Employment: Mr. Elrington is a practicing attorney at law and is a partner of the law firm of Pitts and Elrington. ¶4. Political Affiliation/ Work: Elrington is a long time UDP member and brother of Hubert Elrington, a former Attorney General and cabinet minister in the previous UDP administration. He ran for office in his division on three previous occasions. In 2003, he broke away from the U.D.P. and ran a losing independent campaign for office. In 2006 he reconciled with the party and defeated PUP cabinet member Godfrey Smith in the 2008 election. ¶5. Other: One of fourteen children, Elrington is married to Barbara Elrington (nee Wright); they have three girls and one boy. According to local press "Elrington is persistently plagued by rumors that he and party leader Dean Barrow are constantly at odds. Sedi says it's only that he's always eager to share his ideas." HILL