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Francis Fonseca

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Francis Fonseca
Fonseca in 2022
Leader of the Opposition
In office
3 November 2011 – 31 January 2016
MonarchElizabeth II
Governor GeneralColville Young
Prime MinisterDean Barrow
Preceded byJohnny Briceño
Succeeded byJohnny Briceño
Member of the Belize House of Representatives for Freetown
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 March 2003
Preceded byJorge Espat
Personal details
Born
Francis William Fonseca

(1967-03-11) 11 March 1967 (age 57)
Belize City, British Honduras
(now Belize)
Political partyPeople's United Party
Residence(s)Belize City, Belize
Alma materSt. John's College
University of Southwestern Louisiana
University of the West Indies

Francis William Fonseca (born 11 March 1967) is a Belizean politician who has served as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade since 2024. He served as leader of the People's United Party (PUP) and as Leader of the Opposition of Belize from 2011 to 2016.[1]

Early life and education

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Fonseca was born on 11 March 1967. He attended St. John's College in Belize City and the University of Southwestern Louisiana, where he received a bachelor's degree in economics. In 1994, Fonseca received a law degree from the University of the West Indies.[1] He is a cousin of former PUP Representative Ralph Fonseca, who also served in the Musa Cabinet.[2]

Career

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Fonseca was first elected to the Belize House of Representatives from the Belize City-based Freetown constituency in 2003. He served as Attorney General and Minister of Education, Culture and Labour in Prime Minister Said Musa's cabinet until February 2008, when the PUP lost the general election to the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP). Fonseca was one of only six PUP representatives nationwide to retain his seat in the National Assembly in the 2008 election.[3]

Following the election defeat and subsequent resignation of Musa from the PUP leadership in March 2008, the party held a convention to select its new leader. Fonseca was a candidate for the party leadership at this convention, and he was considered to be the candidate preferred by the party establishment, but he was defeated by Johnny Briceño, receiving 310 votes against 330 for Briceño.[4] Fonseca successfully contested the PUP leadership in 2011 after Briceño's resignation. He led the party in the 2012 election, in which it was narrowly defeated.[1]

A National Convention was called on for January 31, 2016. Three candidates ran for the position, Orange Walk Central representative, Hon. Johnny Briceño, recently elected Lake Independence representative, Cordel Hyde and Freetown incumbent, Francis Fonseca contested it again although his announcement of retirement from politics.

Following the November 2020 General Election in Belize in which the People's United Party was successful, Francis Fonseca was appointed as Minister of Education, Culture Science and Technology in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Johnny Briceño. He is currently serving as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, having replaced Eamon Courtenay in 2024.[5][6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Party Leader | People's United Party Archived 2014-10-10 at the Wayback Machine. People's United Party. (accessed 23 September 2014)
  2. ^ "Francis Fonseca on Why He Wants to Lead the PUP", Tropical Vision Limited, February 25, 2008. (accessed 25 October 2014)
  3. ^ The battle for leadership[usurped] by Angel Novelo, The Reporter, 15 February 2008
  4. ^ "Johnny stuns Francis in ‘Pan!", Amandala Online, April 1, 2008.
  5. ^ Cowo, Janelle (2024-01-13). "Hon. Francis Fonseca takes the role of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade". The San Pedro Sun. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  6. ^ Cowo, Janelle (2024-10-04). "Belize's Foreign Affairs Minister fails to highlight issues in the Sarstoon area during UN speech". The San Pedro Sun. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
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