Prime Minister of Belize

About John Briceño

John Briceño is a Belizean politician serving as Prime Minister of Belize since November 2020. Born on March 20, 1964, in Orange Walk Town, Belize, he is the leader of the People’s United Party (PUP) and has been a prominent figure in Belizean politics for over two decades.

Briceño was educated in Belize and the United States, earning a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University. He entered politics in the 1990s and has served multiple terms in the National Assembly representing his home constituency in Orange Walk. He served as Deputy Prime Minister under Said Musa’s administration from 1998 to 2008 and was elected leader of the PUP in 2008.

After years in opposition, Briceño led the PUP to a landslide victory in the November 2020 general election, winning 26 of 31 seats in parliament. He was sworn in as Prime Minister on November 12, 2020, succeeding Dean Barrow of the United Democratic Party.

As Prime Minister, Briceño has focused on economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental conservation, and Belize’s long-standing territorial dispute with Guatemala. He has positioned Belize as a leader in Caribbean sustainable development and protected over 30% of its national territory.

In his personal life, Briceño is married to Rosanna Briceño and has children. He is known for his commitment to social welfare programs and his deep ties to the rural communities of Orange Walk District.

Hon. Dean O. Barrow, Prime Minister of Belize

The Hon. Dean O. Barrow was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Belize on Friday, February 8, 2008.

Mr. Barrow was first elected to the House of Representatives at the 1984 general election as the United Democratic Party candidate in the Queen’s Square electoral division.  He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Economic Development in the 1984-1989 UDP administration.

Mr. Barrow was re-elected to his Queen’s Square House seat in 1989 and 1993.  In the 1993-1998 UDP term in government he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Security, and Attorney General.

Following the UDP’s defeat at the 1998 election, Mr. Barrow, who had retained his seat in the House of Representatives, was elected Leader of the Opposition.   As party leader he was again re-elected as Area Representatives for Queen’s Square at the 2003 general election, and increased his party’s standing in the House of Representatives.  On Thursday, February 7, 2008, Mr. Barrow led the UDP to office in a landslide general election victory.  In Belize’s sixth post-independence election on Thursday, the UDP won 25 of the 31 seats in the House of Representatives.

As Prime Minister, Mr. Barrow is committed to the task of national reconstruction.  He is committed to the quick implementation of his party’s reform agenda, providing the right checks and balances, including penalties, and to restoring to the people the rightful authority over their elected officials and public officers that a true democracy dictates.  Speaking at an impromptu “pre-victory rally victory rally” at his party’s headquarters on election night, Mr. Barrow vowed that the new government would not stray from the straight and narrow.

The new Prime Minister is additionally committed to the early implementation of a series of other impressive manifesto goals covering a broad range of areas including the economy, the social sector, education, agriculture, and oil and energy.

Mr. Barrow was born in Belize City on March 2, 1951.  He was trained at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill (LL.B. 1973); Norman Manley Law School, Mona (Certificate of Legal Education, 1975); University of Miami School of Law (L.M., 1981) and the University of Miami (M.A. International Relations).