Erwin Contreras facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Erwin Contreras
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| Member of the Belize House of Representatives for Cayo West | |
| In office 27 August 1998 – 11 November 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Amin Hegar |
| Succeeded by | Jorge Espat |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 July 1966 Benque Viejo del Carmen, British Honduras |
| Nationality | Belizean |
| Political party | United Democratic Party |
Erwin Rafael "Winchi" Contreras (born 9 July 1966) is a politician from Belize. He was also a professional footballer. From 2008 to 2012, he served as a government minister. He was the Minister of Economic Development, Commerce, Industry, and Consumer Protection. After the 2012 election, he became the Minister of Trade Investment, Private Sector Development, and Consumer Protection.
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About Erwin Contreras
Erwin Contreras was born on July 9, 1966. His birthplace was Benque Viejo del Carmen in the Cayo District of Belize. He is known by his nickname, "Winchi."
He is a member of the United Democratic Party. This is one of the main political parties in Belize. At one point, he was second in line to become the Prime Minister. This meant he would take over if the Prime Minister could not do their job.
His Football Career
Before becoming a politician, Erwin Contreras was a talented footballer. He played for the Belize national football team. He even played in two important games in 1996. These games were part of the qualification rounds for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He played against the Panama team.
His Time in Politics
Erwin Contreras served in the Belize House of Representatives. This is like the parliament or congress in other countries. Members of the House of Representatives help make laws for Belize.
First Election Wins
Contreras was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1998. He won by a very small number of votes. He beat Amin Hegar from the People's United Party. In that election, he was one of only three members from his party to win. He was the only one to defeat a sitting member of the other party.
He continued to win his elections for many years. In every election until 2015, he won with more than 54 percent of the votes. This showed he had strong support from the people in his area.
End of His Term
Erwin Contreras served in the House of Representatives until 2020. In the 2020 Belizean general election, he ran for re-election. However, he was defeated by Jorge "Milon" Espat. This marked the end of his long time as a representative.
