Dean Barrow

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Dean Oliver Barrow is a Belizean politician and a member of the United Democratic Party. He served as foreign minister from 1993-1998 and is currently Belize's leader of the opposition.

Barrow is an attorney by trade. He has five children, the oldest of whom is jailed rapper Jamaal "Shyne" Barrow born November 18, 1978.

[edit] Political career

In 1983 Barrow entered electoral politics as a candidate for Belize City Council elections in December of 1983, which he won. He then participated in general elections of December 1984 as a candidate for the Queen's Square electoral division against, ironically, current fellow MP Ralph Fonseca. Barrow defeated Fonseca and was nominated to Cabinet as Attorney General and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

In the 1989 general election, Barrow defeated Thomas Greenwood but his party lost the election. Barrow acted as Deputy Party Leader to Manuel Esquivel and continued to act as an attorney. In 1993, Barrow won his third straight general election, over Juliet Soberanis, and returned to Cabinet in the posts he held in the 1984 administration, plus Minister of National Security. His detractors called him "Minister of Everything" because he appeared at most major functions on behalf of the UDP government.

After the 1998 elections loss, Barrow was elevated to Party Leader and Leader of the Opposition, replacing Manuel Esquivel. Barrow has presided over the smallest Oppositions (3 and 7 respectively) in the House of Representatives since 1974 and ever in the UDP's history. His main job is to offer criticism of Government policy. Barrow has won his last two elections by close margins over fellow attorney Richard "Dickie" Bradley and is favored to win in 2008. Dean Barrow is also considered one of Belize's more successful attorneys and has appeared in several high profile cases.

Preceded by Manuel Esquivel

Leader of the Opposition, Belize 1998-present

Succeeded by incumbent