New Prime Minister Announces Cabinet In Belize

by Carla Johnson, Investors Offshore.com, London

12 February 2008

After much anticipation, Belize's new Prime Minister, Dean Barrow, has officially named his new cabinet.

At a packed-to-capacity room at the Radisson Fort George Hotel, Barrow announced that the position of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment would be filled by Gaspar Vega, the role of Minister of Economic Development, Commerce, Industry and Consumer Protection would go to Erwin Contreras, and Attorney General, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade would be handed to Wilfred Elrington.

Barrow also appointed Gabriel Martinez as the new Minister of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development, John Saldivar as the Minister of the Public Service, Governance Improvement and Elections and Boundaries, and Melvin Hulse as Minister of Public Utilities, National Emergency Management, Transport and Communications.

Barrow also revealed that he would be assuming the position of Finance Minister, in addition to his duties as Prime Minister. Further announcements are expected shortly.

It emerged last week that the United Democratic Party had won Belize's general election.

The victory was reported as a "landslide" win, with Mr Barrow's party winning 20 of the 31 seats in the House of Representatives, giving Belize a new government for the first time in ten years.

Mr Barrow said at the time that:

"I am humbled and grateful to the Belizean people for this opportunity to head a new government that will restore our economy and re-establish transparency, accountability and good governance."

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