Wilfred Elrington

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

The Honourable Wilfred "Sedi" Elrington LLB CLE
Elrington in 2014
Member of the Belize House of Representatives for Pickstock
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 February 2008
Preceded by	Godfrey Smith
Personal details
Born	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

Biography

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]

Elrington 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.

In 2009, he successfully managed to turn Guatemala's long-time ally Israel into a partner of Belize.[4]

As foreign minister under Dean Barrow, Elrington is noted for his conciliatory tone regarding the Belizean–Guatemalan territorial dispute,[5] 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.[6] Sandra Jovel became Guatemala's minister of foreign affairs in August 2017, and immediately gained Elrington's esteem and respect.[7]

In July 2017, as shareholder of the company Progresso Heights Limited, Elrington was taken to court to clarify many transfers of lands where proof of initial ownership cannot be demonstrated.[8] In August 217, he was ordered by the court to provide all documentation related to this affair.[9] That same month, he was part of a delegation representing the Caribbean countries to meet with representatives of the US president Donald Trump.[10]

In January 2018, Elrington expressed his surprise when the USA announced it was temporarily stopping to issue temporary work visa programme for Belizeans, on the basis that the country is not doing enough to do more in preventing human trafficking.[11]

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.[12][13] 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.[14]

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.[15] He was re-elected in 2012, narrowly defeating the PUP's Francis Donald Smith.[16]

Personal life

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.[17]

Elrington speaks Spanish and is a member of the Trinity Methodist Church. He enjoys farming and journalism.[18]

See also

• List of foreign ministers in 2017
• List of current foreign ministers

References

1. CARICOM Law - Hon. Wilfred Peter Elrington, Caribbean Community. (accessed 9 October 2014) Archived 16 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine
2. "New Belize PM names 16-member Cabinet". CANA News. 12 February 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-03-14. 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. Belize & Israel Cement Diplomatic Relations, 7newsbelize.com, 16 November Belize & Israel Cement Diplomatic Relations
5. Ramos, Adele. "Belize and Guatemala to amend ICJ compromis" Amandala, 12 May 2015. (accessed 14 May 2015)
6. Trujillo, Renee. "Presidential Candidate for Guatemala Says Belize Can Still Be Fought For" Archived 2015-09-28 at the Wayback Machine, LOVE FM, 9 September 2015 (accessed 28 September 2015)
7. New Guatemalan Lady F.M. Makes Impression on Wilfred Elrington, Channel5belize.com, 19 December 2017
8. Wilfred Elrington Baffled by Case of Missing Documents; C.C.J. Says He Must Return Them, Channel5belize.com, 21 July 2017
9. C.C.J. Says Why Wilfred Elrington Must Return Documents, Channel5belize.com, 9 August 2017
10. Caribbean Foreign Ministers meet with Trump officials, Breakingbelizenews.com, 7 July 2017
11. Belize reacts to US ban from temporary work visas, Jamaicaobserver.com, 19 January 2018
12. General Elections 1993, Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission. (accessed 19 November 2014)
13. General Elections 1998, Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission. (accessed 19 November 2014)
14. 2003 General Elections final results, Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission. (accessed 19 November 2014)
15. 2008 General Elections Final Results, Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission. (accessed 19 November 2014)
16. GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS 2012, Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission. (accessed 19 November 2014)
17. "Cablegate: Bio -- Belize Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign", Scoop Media, 13 February 2008. (accessed 12 May 2015)
18. "Minister's Profile". www.mfa.gov.bz. Retrieved 2020-08-20.