Former Leader of the Opposition and UDP Party Leader, Dean Lindo will have a state funeral, through the date has not yet been finalized. The 86 year old passed yesterday afternoon at his home here in Belize City after a long bout of illness.
Today, we reflected on his legacy with his understudy - Michael Finnegan - who started following Lindo in the late 60's when he was forming the People's Democratic Movement.
Finnegan, who is also his eulogist, spoke about the man who made him:...
Hon. Michael Finnegan- Dean Lindo Disciple
"I give most of my success, if not all my success, to Dean Lindo. Lindo was a great thinker, a super intelligent human being, a strategist, an organizer and, to put it simple like this, a man who knew how to get things done."
Jules Vasquez- Reporter
"I think a lot of people underestimate him. You know, people might just look at his track record: two term area representative, leader of the UDP who was never elected Prime Minister. So, people might look at his track record on paper as being mostly unremarkable."
Hon. Michael Finnegan
"Yes but remember when he and Phillip Goldson and myself way back then were fighting the PUP, the PUP was not what the PUP is today. Back then the PUP was PUP! and almost the entire country of Belize was PUP. So, it wasn't easy to defeat the PUP back then."
Jules Vasquez
"The UDP's political DNA, to a large extent, larger than Phillip Goldson, larger than Manuel Esquivel, is coded by Dean Lindo. Explain that to me."
Hon. Michael Finnegan
"Lindo found out what was wrong. Lindo found out why we were losing elections. Dean Lindo said back then that we were playing Queensberry Rules and the PUP was playing karate. And for the UDP to win, we have got to move away from Queensberry rules and begin to play karate with the PUP."
Jules Vasquez
"People see you today as one of the greatest political successes ever, in Belize City politics in particular. You are an undefeated and unbeatable six term area representative. But what most people don't know is that you are a scientist in politics but you got your science from Dean Lindo."
Hon. Michael Finnegan
"I got my schooling from Dean Lindo. In fairness to Dean Lindo, he clothed me, he fed me, he educated me, he taught me the English language, he taught me grammar and he whispered in my ears, 'when you go on TV or when you go to the House no talk English, you know why? When you talk creole you make it sound sweet. So your job is to make things sound sweet; stick to what you know about.'"
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