WHO'S WHO IN BELIZE, CENTRAL AMERICA - PART III

The Right Honourable Dr. Manuel Esquivel

Manuel Esquivel, born in 1940, Prime Minister of Belize (1984-1989, 1993-1998). Born in Belize City, Esquivel earned a bachelor of science degree from Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and a certificate in physics education from the University of Bristol, England. He taught science and mathematics at Saint John’s Junior College in Belize City before becoming involved in politics.

Esquivel was one of the founders of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and was chosen as the party leader. Elected to the Senate (the upper chamber of the national legislature) in 1979, Esquivel served as minister of finance and as minister of defense and economic development. He led his party to victory at the polls in 1984 and became Prime Minister. When the party lost power in 1989, it still held the second largest number of seats in the legislature, making Esquivel the leader of the official opposition. In 1993 Esquivel became Prime Minister again when his party won the national elections. Shortly thereafter, he announced the suspension of a pact with the neighboring country of Guatemala that would have resolved a 130-year-old border dispute between the two countries. Esquivel claimed that too many concessions had been made in order to gain Guatemalan acceptance of the pact. Esquivel served as prime minister until the national election in 1998, when the UDP was overwhelmingly defeated. After the election Esquivel resigned as leader of the UDP.

Abbreviated Information on Manuel Esquivel, Second Prime Minister of Belize
In officeDecember 17, 1984 – September 7, 1989
Deputy
Dean Barrow
Preceded by
George Cadle Price
Succeeded by
George Cadle Price
4th Prime Minister of Belize
In officeJuly 3, 1993 – August 30, 1998
Deputy
Dean Barrow
Preceded by
George Cadle Price
Succeeded by
Said Musa
Born
May 2, 1940 (1940-05-02) (age 67)Belize City, Belize
Nationality
Belizean
Political party
United Democratic Party
Spouse
Kathy Esquivel
Dr. Manuel Esquivel (born 2 May 1940) is a Belizean politician. As leader of the United Democratic Party, he served as Prime Minister from 1984 to 1989, and then again from 1993 to 1998.
Esquivel, born in Belize City when it was still the colony's capital, studied a Bachelor of Science in physics at Loyola University New Orleans; he subsequently pursued post-graduate studies into physics at Bristol University, England.
He was appointed to Her Majesty's Privy Council by Queen Elizabeth II. This life-time appointment confers the title "Right Honourable". He also holds an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Loyola University.
After the UDP won the February 2008 election, Esquivel was appointed by Prime Minister Dean Barrow as senior advisor to government with the rank of minister on February 12, 2008.[1]
Esquivel is married to wife Kathleen (Kathy), with three children. Daughter Laura has followed in her father's footsteps as City Councillor under the UDP since March 2006.