George Price

It has been my dedicated task to lead the movement of Belizean independence from the chains of British colonialism; and I have no intention to exchange these chains for the colonialism of Guatemala or of any country…”
George Price
  • Entered Municipal Politics 1944
  • Member of Belize City Town Board/City Council 1947-1965
  • Mayor of Belize City 1958-1962
  • Founding Member of People’s United Party (P.U.P.)
  • Secretary General of P.U.P. 1950-1956
  • Leader of P.U.P. 1956-1996
  • Member of Legislative Council 1954-1960
  • Member of Legislative Assembly 1960-1965
  • Member of House of Representatives 1965-1984, 1989-Present
  • Member of Executive Council 1957, 1961-1965
  • First Minister and Minister of Finance 1961-1965
  • Premier and Minister of Finance and Economic Development 1965-1984
  • Prime Minister and Minister of Finance 1981-1984, 1989-1993
  • Leader of Emeritus of P.U.P. 1996-Present
  • Senior Minister, 1998-Present
Nevertheless, Mr. Price and his people seemed determined to make their own way in the world. When one expresses skepticism about the territory’s ultimate viability, Mr. Price points out that Iceland is a full member of the United nations with less than double the country’s population.
Financial Times, July 26, 1963
It was Price, more than anyone, with the slogans, the flag, the anthem and his persistence in insisting that Belize was Belize, not British Honduras, that gave Belize an identity. Despite his domination of modern Belizean politics, Price remains an enigma, a private person who rarely socializes for the sake of socializing.
Miami Herald, September 1981
Price is a pragmatist, a combination of small-town politician and a shrewd strategist on the International scene. Twenty-two years of campaigning for independence – against a powerful lobbying from Guatemala – has taught him how to win friends from what he concedes is a “poor and tiny” country.
Los Angeles Times, September 22, 1981
I have worked with George Price for many years and on many issues. I have sat with him in many regional, Commonwealth and international conferences. Over the years and through many challenging issues there are qualities that have always shone through, indeed, seemed to inspire the public work of this great son of Belize.
Michael Manley, 1995