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Derek Aikman Passes
posted (March 4, 2019)
Tonight we note the passing of history-making politician, Derek Aikman. The 59 year old died unexpectedly on Saturday night.

Aikman made history in 1984 as a UDP candidate when he defeated George Price in the Freetown division - handing the then Prime Minister his first general election defeat. Price had held the seat from 1961 - so, for the brash 25 year old running in his first general election to beat him in that safe seat was an upset of epic proportions.

After that, Aikman went unto serve as Minister of Education, and won Freetown again in 1989 - but did not serve out the full term. In 1992 - in what is latterly viewed as the equivalent of a political fatwa - through an application from the Belize Bank, the Supreme Court adjudged him to be a bankrupt and he was forced to vacate his seat in the house. That bye-eleciton gave rise to the PUP's Jorge Espat and the PUP has held the division uninterrupted since then.

Aikman tried to make a comeback with the UDP in 1998 in the Fort George division but he was soundly defeated by Said Musa.

In the years that followed up to his death, he remained active in public life as an agitator for various causes - most recently the safety of individual voter's ballots.

But, the man known to his political followers as "Mi-D" never regained the luster, or the following of the 1980's.

Still, Aikman's name is writ in history - and few can doubt his passion as a patriot.

Today, the Office of OJ Elrington, the UDP Standard Bearer for Freetown put out a statement saying "Derek Leopoldo Aikman's name will forever be etched in Belize's history books as a great political Leader, audacious businessman, and as an all-around, good man. He likely will always be remembered as the young charismatic David who brought down the political Goliath, Rt. Hon. George Price, when he defeated him at the Freetown polls in the 1984 General Election….his legacy was even richer outside of his political glory. Mi D...gave greatly of himself to make an extraordinary and lasting impact on Belize...The entire Freetown constituency joins the nation in mourning the passing of this Belizean patriot who served our country with unwavering passion and purpose."

The Chamber of Commerce - where his wife Kim is the CEO also released a statement, saying, quote, "We mourn as a family with her, and our hearts remain with her, Inga, Mischa and Anya as we continue praying for them."

The statement goes unto say, quote, "Mr. Aikman…was undoubtedly a towering figure in Belize, whose love for his nation knew no bounds. He has earned his place in our history books and the nation is surely poorer at this untimely loss."

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