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. Oldest son is jailed rapper Jamaal "Shyne" Barrow born November 18, 1978; he also has four other children.


[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, 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 presided over the smallest Oppositions (3 and 7 respectively) in the UDP's history and certainly since 1974. His main job is to offer criticism of Government policy. Barrow also presides over the UDP domestically. Barrow has won his last two elections by close margins over fellow attorney Richard "Dickie" Bradley and is expected to run in 2008.

Recently, he was criticized by Belizeans and even his supporters for his allegiance to money instead of the country and people. Barrow is a highly paid attorney who often times defends clients alleged to be drug lords or criminals.

Preceded by:
Manuel Esquivel		 Leader of the Opposition, Belize
1998-present		 Succeeded by:
incumbent
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