Cablegate: Bio -- Belize Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign

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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBE #0082 0442128
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 132128Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY BELMOPAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1083
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS BELMOPAN 000082

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR WHA/CEN - ROIS BEAL, INR/B

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINR BH
SUBJECT: BIO -- BELIZE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN
TRADE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL WILFRED ELRINGTON

1. Wilfred Elrington was appointed by Prime Minister Dean Barrow to
cabinet on Monday, February 11, 2008. Following is his biography.

To be addressed as: Mr. Minister or Minister Elrington

More commonly known as: "Sedi" Elrington

POB: Pickstock, Belize City, Belize

2. Education:
St. Michael's College
Saint John's Junior College
University of the West Indies (Law)

3. Career/ Employment:
Mr. Elrington is a practicing attorney at law and is a partner of
the law firm of Pitts and Elrington.

4. Political Affiliation/ Work:
Elrington is a long time UDP member and brother of Hubert Elrington,
a former Attorney General and cabinet minister in the previous UDP
administration. He ran for office in his division on three previous
occasions. In 2003, he broke away from the U.D.P. and ran a losing
independent campaign for office. In 2006 he reconciled with the
party and defeated PUP cabinet member Godfrey Smith in the 2008
election.

5. Other:
One of fourteen children, Elrington is married to Barbara Elrington
(nee Wright); they have three girls and one boy. According to local
press "Elrington is persistently plagued by rumors that he and party
leader Dean Barrow are constantly at odds. Sedi says it's only that
he's always eager to share his ideas."

HILL

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