BURRELL BOOM, Belize District, Tues. Dec. 22, 2020– On December 19, it was announced that 93-year-old politician Fred Hunter had passed away. Frederick Hopkins Hunter was the five-time area representative for the Belize Rural North constituency under the People’s United Party. He served the division from its inception in 1961 until 1984, when he was defeated by the UDP’s Sam Rhaburn.

As mentioned, Hunter served a remarkable five-terms as an area representative, and also held various posts within the George Price administration. He led various ministries, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Cooperatives, and the Ministry of Works, Port and Harbour. He also served as Communication Minister and as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Public Works.

In his youth, Fred was an avid boxer, and participated in the Belize Golden Gloves competition.

In 2012, after about 38 years of retirement from electoral politics, Hunter decided to run once more in his home constituency of Belize Rural North. Though his name never made it to the ballot, he has lived in that division since the late 1940s.

In an interview with News5 at the time, Hunter said, “I serve the people, man. George Price said to serve the people — God’s pikney; the poor, the widows, and the orphans dah God’s children. You hurt them, you in trouble. If you want God to smile on you, you help the ones who need the most help. The rich don’t need help. My motto is not that the rich should have less, but that the poor should have more.”

Frederick Hopkins Hunter will be laid to rest on Wednesday, December 23, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burrell Boom Village.

We here at Amandala express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the late Fred Hunter.