Wilfred Elrington

Wilfred "Sedi" Elrington

Elrington in 2014
Member of the Belize House of Representatives for Pickstock
Assumed office
7 February 2008
Preceded by Godfrey Smith
Personal details
Born (1948-11-20) 20 November 1948
Belize City, British Honduras
(now Belize)
Nationality Belizean
Political party United Democratic Party
Spouse(s) Barbara Wright Elrington
Children 4
Residence Belize City, Belize
Alma mater University of the West Indies

Wilfred Peter "Sedi" Elrington (born 20 November 1948)[1] is a Belizean politician who has been the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belize since 2008.

Elrington read law at the University of the West Indies. He is the only Belizean who has served in the executive, the legislative and the judicial arms of government, having served as a part-time judge of the Supreme Court of Belize.[2]

He was the Attorney-General of Belize and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade from February 12, 2008 to 2010. A reshuffle of the Cabinet in 2010 left him with just Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. In 2012 he was again made the Attorney General of Belize.[3] He remains the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

As foreign minister under Dean Barrow, Elrington is noted for his conciliatory tone regarding the Belizean–Guatemalan territorial dispute,[4] a stance which has become especially controversial in Belize in light of 2015 Guatemalan presidential candidate Jimmy Morales' comments on the issue, which are decidedly pro-Belize annexation.[5]

Electoral history

Elrington ran as the UDP candidate for the Belize City-based Pickstock constituency in 1993 and 1998, but was defeated both times by former PUP Prime Minister George Cadle Price.[6][7] Price retired from the Belize House in 2003. That year Elrington ran for the Pickstock seat as an independent, but finished second to the PUP's Godfrey Smith.[8]

Returning to the UDP, Elrington contested the Pickstock seat a fourth consecutive time in 2008 and finally prevailed, defeating Smith by a 56-42 margin.[9] He was re-elected in 2012, narrowly defeating the PUP's Francis Donald Smith.[10]

Family

Elrington is married to Barbara Yolanda Jean Elrington and has four children. His brother, former UDP Area Representative Hubert Elrington, also served as the attorney general for Belize.[11]

References

  1. ↑ CARICOM Law - Hon. Wilfred Peter Elrington, Caribbean Community. (accessed 9 October 2014)
  2. ↑ "New Belize PM names 16-member Cabinet". CANA News. 12 February 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  3. ↑ "B.Q. who no longer; AG Elrington resumes post". News 5 Belize. 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
  4. ↑ Ramos, Adele. "Belize and Guatemala to amend ICJ compromis" Amandala, 12 May 2015. (accessed 14 May 2015)
  5. ↑ Trujillo, Renee. "Presidential Candidate for Guatemala Says Belize Can Still Be Fought For", LOVE FM, 9 September 2015 (accessed 28 September 2015)
  6. ↑ General Elections 1993, Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission. (accessed 19 November 2014)
  7. ↑ General Elections 1998, Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission. (accessed 19 November 2014)
  8. ↑ 2003 General Elections final results, Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission. (accessed 19 November 2014)
  9. ↑ 2008 General Elections Final Results, Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission. (accessed 19 November 2014)
  10. ↑ GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS 2012, Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission. (accessed 19 November 2014)
  11. ↑ "Cablegate: Bio -- Belize Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign", Scoop Media, 13 February 2008. (accessed 12 May 2015)
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