And, turning now from crime, we go to politics - where a titan has passed. Dean Russell Lindo died at his Belize City home after 3:00 today. He'd just turned 86 and had been ailing with a number of health issues.
Lindo was the first leader of the UDP - and is widely considered to be one of the most important political figures in Belizean history.
Today, from Havana Cuba where he is recovering from back surgery, his nephew, namesake and former law partner, Prime Minister Dean Barrow spoke about Lindo - who he called a towering figure in Belizean politics:…
As the Prime Minister discussed, Lindo lived a full and historic life. He was the founder of the PDM - or People's Democratic Movement - in 1969 after he ran and lost with Phillip Goldson's NIP. In 1973 he joined forces with the same NIP and the Liberal party to contest the 1974 general elections as the UDP. They narrowly lost, and Lindo - elected as the area rep for Fort George became party leader, fated to become Prime Minister - but, the UDP lost unexpectedly in 1979.
Lindo also lost that election to said Musa, but re-gained the For George division in 1984 when the UDP was elected to office for the first time.
He became Minister of Natural Resources and Agriculture. When he lost to Musa again in 1989, he retired from electoral politics.
Less than a month ago on his sick bed at home - he discussed those early days in politics:
The PUP today put out a statement saying, quote, "Mr. Lindo served Belize for most of his life and Belizeans at home and abroad recognize his work as a politician, statesman and attorney. We join with all Belizeans in expressing our gratitude for the life of Service of the late Mr. Dean Russel Lindo and offer our solidarity to his family and members of his beloved United Democratic Party."
Dean Lindo, dead at 86. We'll have more on his legacy in tomorrow's news.
Email
Print