BELIZE CITY, Mon. Apr. 19, 2021– Late this evening, the United Democratic Party released a statement announcing the passing of one of its party’s founders, Nestor Vasquez. “Net Vasquez,” as he was affectionally known to generations of UDP party supporters and Belizean citizens, was 89 years old.

Preliminary reports are indicating that Vasquez was injured when he fell down the stairs of his home, and was rushed to the Belize Medical Associates for treatment, but passed away while at the facility. His family was reportedly with him when he died.

He was an accountant by profession, and was also the owner of Vasquez and Company and Tropical Vision Ltd., the parent company of Channel 7 — making him a pioneer in Belizean television. As mentioned, he was one of the founders of the UDP and had been a financial advisor to the party since 1984.

“He was one of the founders of the UDP and a trustee of the party. Along with former Prime Minister Sir Manuel Esquivel and other prominent personalities like Curl Thompson, Henry Young, Harry Lawrence and Paul Rodriguez, Vasquez was a member of the Liberal Party which merged with the People’s Development Movement (PDM) led by Dean Lindo and the National Independence Party (NIP) led by Philip Goldson to form the UDP in 1973.,” the UDP release stated.

Vasquez was also instrumental in the formation of Belize Telecommunications Limited, which later became Belize Telemedia Limited, where he served as chairman of the company’s board of directors for some years before recently resigning from that post. Leader of the UDP, Hon. Patrick Faber, and the entire party extend deepest condolences to the family of Nestor Vasquez, Sr.

The UDP will fly their flag at half-mast until his burial on Friday, April, 23.

We here at Amandala extend our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the late Nestor Vasquez.