United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Dean Barrow was sworn in on Friday, February 8, as Belize’s fourth prime minister at the Belize House in Belmopan.
“It is now time for realizing the possibilities that have been promised and I’m sure the whole country joins with me in wishing you all the best in that difficult arduous task over the next five years,” said Governor-General Sir Colville Young. “Once again, I congratulate you and your winning team, and indeed I congratulate the whole country on their once again demonstrating the strength of our democracy in transferring power peacefully from one party to another. Congratulations, Belize!”
Barrow succeeds the now Leader of the Opposition, Said Musa, leader of the People’s United Party. The first prime minister was former PUP leader George Cadle Price, the second was former UDP leader Manuel Esquivel, and the third was current PUP leader Said Musa.
Musa has had the privilege of leading Central Government for the first back-to-back terms since Independence in 1981. He led his party to a landslide 26-3 victory against the UDP in 1998, and in the face of a series of scandals blamed on his administration, won the 2003 elections with an impressive 22-7 margin.
However, Musa’s popularity and the popularity of his administration waned substantially during its second term, as first evidenced by a massive defeat in the 2006 municipal elections.
In taking over the reins of power from Musa, Barrow expressed deep humility and gratitude at Friday’s swearing in:
“I, Dean Oliver Barrow, do swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Belize and will uphold the Constitution and the law and that I will conscientiously, impartially, and to the best of my ability discharge my duties as the Prime Minister of Belize and do right to all manner of people without fear or favor, affection or ill will, so help me God,” he said, in accepting his new post.
He pledged to do his “very best” in fulfilling the oath of office.
Very prominent in Belmopan on Friday was the mass of several hundreds of well-wishers, who gathered in Belmopan to celebrate with the new Prime Minister.
In speaking with the ‘08 Now team (KREM and Channel 7) on election night, Barrow had said that he would ensure his administration stays on message, and keep returning to the theme of honesty.
“People want upright honest and straight governance. That is going to be my greatest commitment – what I most want to deliver on – what I will not rest until I feel that I can say to people, ‘We did what we said in terms of bringing back honesty and integrity,” he had remarked.
Barrow’s ascension as Prime Minister—and Belize’s first Black prime minister—says a lot for our multiethnic nation, and its collective willingness to embrace people despite the color of their skin.
We had asked Barrow on election night whether race was a factor, in terms of how he was viewed by voters. Barrow replied that while the PUP certainly tried to play the race card, it did not work, and the election results, he said, would have shown that.
He recollected a rally the party held in Benque the prior Tuesday: “The way I was mobbed by a completely Hispanic community, the love and adulation, was enough to convince me that race was not a factor to the voters. When it really matters they care – as Martin Luther King says – about the content of your character.”