Tonight we note the passing of a pivotal figure in Belize’s history. Political trailblazer Leigh Richardson died in New York yesterday morning. He was 84 years old and reportedly died of Parkinson’s disease.

Richardson who was among the founders of the PUP and the nationalist movement left Belize in 1961 after many difficult years of battle against the colonial government and political opponents. Along with Phillip Goldson he served 9 months for sedition in 1951. Former two term Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel recently characterized him and Goldson as political prisoners.

He was recently honored at the Tribute to Belizean Patriots with the Order of Distinction. Richardson was too ill to attend, but his family members who said that he had been exiled from Belize.

Leigh Richardson, dead at 84.