BIO -- BELIZE SENIOR GOVERNMENT ADVISOR (MINISTERIAL RANK)

UNCLAS BELMOPAN 000088 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR WHA/CEN - ROIS BEAL, INR/B E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PINR PGOV BH SUBJECT: BIO -- BELIZE SENIOR GOVERNMENT ADVISOR (MINISTERIAL RANK) DR. MANUEL ESQUIVEL ¶1. Dr. Manuel Esquivel was appointed by Prime Minister Dean Barrow to the position of Senior Government Advisor with Ministerial Rank on Monday, February 11, 2008. Following is his biography. Address as: The Right Honourable Dr. MANUEL ESQUIVEL DPOB: May 2, 1940, Belize City ¶2. Education: Holy Redeemer Primary School and St. John's College High School in Belize City Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola University in New Orleans (1962) Post-graduate certificate in physics from the University of Bristol, England (1966) ¶3. Career/Employment: Retired from politics in 1998 and currently owns retail store Price and Company 1993-1998 Belizean Prime Minister 1989-1993 leader of the opposition 1984 -1989 Belizean Prime Minister 1982 elected to the House 1979 appointed to the Senate 1976-1982 UDP party chairman 1963 - early 1970's Physics and math instructor St. John's Junior College in Belize City ¶4. Political Affiliation: Esquivel is a founding member and, prior to the 2008 elections, the only Prime Minister from the United Democratic Party. Considered the "senior statesman" of the party, Esquivel continues as an advisor to the party on monetary and fiscal issues and is the chairperson of the party's ethics committee. He was appointed to Her Majesty's Privy Council by Queen Elizabeth II which is a life-time appointment and confers the title Right Honorable". He also holds an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Loyola University. ¶5. Family: In 1971, he married London overseas volunteer Kathleen Levy with whom he has three children. His daughter, Laura, has been a City Councilor with the UDP since March 2006. ¶6. Languages: Esquivel is fluent in English and has basic reading and conversational skills in Spanish. HILL