Leader of the Opposition (Belize)
| Leader of His Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| The Opposition National Assembly of Belize | |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Residence | Belize City, Belize |
| Appointer | Froyla Tzalam |
| Term length | While leader of the largest political party in the House of Representatives that is not in government |
| Precursor | Moses Barrow |
| Inaugural holder | Theodore Aranda |
| Formation | September 21, 1981 |
| Deputy | Hugo Patt |
| Website | https://www.udp.org.bz/ |
 |
|---|
 Belize portal |
The Leader of the Opposition (officially the Leader of His Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition of Belize) is an elected official who, according to the Constitution, "commands the support of those elected officials that do not support the Government." The Leader of the Opposition is the leader of the largest political party in the House of Representatives that is not in government.
The leader of the opposition speaks on behalf of the Opposition Members of House of Representatives and also lead the Shadow Cabinet of Belize.
The current leader of the opposition is Tracy Panton, since 14 March 2025.[1] However, she does not hold the position of leader of the United Democratic Party, which is currently held by Interim Leader Hugo Patt, who will serve until the next party national convention.[2]
Leaders of the Opposition of Belize since Independence (1981–present)
[edit]| No. | Portrait | Name | Tenure | Political party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||
| 1 | Theodore Aranda | 21 September 1981 | November 1982 | 1 year, 2 months | UDP | ||
| 2 | Curl Thompson | January 1983 | 17 December 1984 | 1 year, 11 months | UDP | ||
| 3 | 
|
Florencio Marin | 17 December 1984 | 7 September 1989 | 4 years, 9 months | PUP | |
| 4 | 
|
Manuel Esquivel | 7 September 1989 | 3 July 1993 | 3 years, 10 months | UDP | |
| 5 | 
|
George Cadle Price | 3 July 1993 | 10 November 1996 | 3 years, 3 months | PUP | |
| 6 | 
|
Said Musa (1st time) |
10 November 1996 | 28 August 1998 | 1 year, 9 months | PUP | |
| 7 | .jpg)
|
Dean Barrow | 28 August 1998 | 8 February 2008 | 9 years, 6 months | UDP | |
| (6) |
|
Said Musa (2nd time) |
8 February 2008 | 30 March 2008 | 1 month | PUP | |
| 8 | _(cropped).jpg)
|
Johnny Briceño (1st time) |
30 March 2008 | 18 October 2011 | 3 years, 6 months | PUP | |
| 9 | 
|
Francis Fonseca | 3 November 2011 | 6 November 2015 | 4 years, 3 days | PUP | |
| (8) |
|
Johnny Briceño (2nd time) |
8 February 2016 | 11 November 2020 | 4 years, 277 days | PUP | |
| 10 | .jpg)
|
Patrick Faber (1st time) |
13 November 2020 | 24 June 2021 | 223 days | UDP | |
| 11 | .jpg)
|
Moses Barrow (1st time) |
24 June 2021 | 16 September 2021 | 84 days | UDP | |
| (10) |
|
Patrick Faber (2nd time) |
16 September 2021 | 1 February 2022 | 138 days | UDP | |
| (11) |
|
Moses Barrow (2nd time) |
1 February 2022 | 14 March 2025 | 3 years, 41 days | UDP | |
| 12 |
|
Tracy Panton | 14 March 2025 | Incumbent | 7 days | UDP | |
Notes
[edit]- Theodore Aranda was removed as UDP leader in Dangriga Town on 21 November 1982 while still holding the office of Leader of the Opposition, which he had held since the UDP lost general elections exactly three years earlier on 21 November 1979. Aranda resigned from the UDP shortly thereafter. Curl Thompson was subsequently elevated to deputy party leader and Leader of the Opposition. Meanwhile, Manuel Esquivel defeated Phillip Goldson in elections for party leader in January 1983. Since Esquivel was a member of the Belize Senate at the time, Thompson remained as Leader of the Opposition in the House until the December 1984 election.
- Florencio Marin became Leader of the Opposition after PUP leader George Cadle Price lost his seat in the 1984 election, which the PUP lost by 21 seats to seven. Price retained his position as PUP leader.
- Price resigned as leader of the PUP on 17 August 1996, during his only term as Leader of the Opposition. He was succeeded as party leader and Leader of the Opposition by Said Musa on 10 November 1996.
- Dean Barrow was named Leader of the Opposition after Esquivel lost his seat in the 27 August 1998 election, in which the UDP retained just three seats, of which Barrow's was one. On 30 August, Esquivel retired to make way for Barrow as the new party leader. Barrow retained the office after the UDP lost elections again on 5 March 2003.
- Musa was appointed Leader of the Opposition on 11 February 2008. However effective 30 March 2008, he stepped down as PUP leader and Leader of the Opposition. He was succeeded by Johnny Briceño of Orange Walk.
- Briceño resigned as PUP leader on 7 October 2011 and as Leader of the Opposition on 18 October 2011, citing health issues. The PUP elected Francis Fonseca as his successor on 3 November 2011.
- Barrow ousted Faber as leader in Parliament after obtaining support from the majority of his colleagues.
See also
[edit]- Politics of Belize
- Governor-General of Belize
- List of heads of state of Belize
- List of prime ministers of Belize
References
[edit]- ^ Palacio, Horace (15 March 2025). "UDP rallies behind Tracy Panton as she takes leadership of the opposition". Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ Palacio, Horace (18 March 2025). "Shyne Barrow steps down as UDP leader following election defeat". Breaking Belize News. Retrieved 18 March 2025.