Johnny Briceño facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johnny Briceño
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Briceño in 2022
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| 5th Prime Minister of Belize | |
| Assumed office 12 November 2020 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II Charles III |
| Governor-General | Sir Colville Young Dame Froyla Tzalam |
| Deputy | Cordel Hyde |
| Preceded by | Dean Barrow |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 31 January 2016 – 12 November 2020 |
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| Prime Minister | Dean Barrow |
| Preceded by | Francis Fonseca |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Faber |
| Member of the Belize House of Representatives for Orange Walk Central | |
| Assumed office 30 June 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Leopold Briceño |
| Chairman of the Caribbean Community | |
| In office 1 January 2022 – 30 June 2022 |
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| Secretary-General | Carla Barnett |
| Preceded by | Gaston Browne |
| Succeeded by | Chan Santokhi |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Antonio Briceño
17 July 1960 Orange Walk Town, British Honduras (now Belize) |
| Political party | People's United Party |
| Spouse | Rossana Briceño |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent |
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| Alma mater | St. John's College University of Texas |
John Antonio Briceño (born 17 July 1960) is a politician from Belize. He is the fifth and current prime minister of Belize. He has held this important role since 12 November 2020. Mr. Briceño is also the leader of the People's United Party (PUP) since 2016.
Before becoming Prime Minister, he was the Leader of the Opposition. He held this position from 2008 to 2011 and again from 2016 to 2020. From 1998 to 2007, he served as the Deputy Prime Minister under Prime Minister Said Musa.
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Early Life and Education
Briceño was born in Orange Walk Town, which was then called British Honduras. His birthday is 17 July 1960. His father, Elijio Briceño, was a government minister in the 1980s.
Briceño finished his studies at Muffles College in 1978. He then earned an associate degree in business administration from St. John's College in 1980. Later, he received a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin in 1985.
In 1990, Briceño and his brother Jaime started a company called Centaur Communications. This company first provided cable television. Later, it grew to offer Internet service, television news, and radio.
Political Career
Briceño first became a member of the Belize House of Representatives in 1993. He represented the Orange Walk Central area. In 1994, he also won a seat in the town council elections for Orange Walk Town.
In 1994, Briceño was chosen as a Co-Chairman of the People's United Party. Two years later, in 1996, he was elected as the Deputy Party Leader. When the PUP won the 1998 elections, Briceño was appointed Deputy Prime Minister. He also became the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment.
In August 2004, Briceño led a group of ministers known as the G-7 alliance. They asked for several changes in the government. When Prime Minister Said Musa did not agree to all their requests, the group resigned. However, Musa later agreed to most of their demands, and the G-7 ministers stayed in the Cabinet. Briceño also took on another role, overseeing the Ministry of Finance.
Briceño was among the ministers who disagreed with Musa's plan to pay off a national debt. Because of this, Musa tried to give Briceño a less important role. Briceño refused and resigned from the Cabinet on 5 June 2007.
At a meeting of the PUP in July 2007, Briceño was re-elected as one of the party's deputy leaders. In the February 2008 general election, the PUP lost. However, Briceño was re-elected in his Orange Walk Central area. He was one of only six PUP candidates who won their seats.
On 30 March 2008, Briceño was elected as the leader of the PUP. This happened at a party meeting in Belmopan. He took over from Said Musa. He won against Francis Fonseca, who was also running for the leadership.
In October 2011, Briceño stepped down as both PUP and opposition leader. He mentioned health reasons for his decision. He kept his seat in the National Assembly. Francis Fonseca then became the new leader.
Becoming Prime Minister
On 11 November 2020, the People's United Party, led by Briceño, won the 2020 Belizean general election. They defeated the United Democratic Party, which was led by Patrick Faber. Briceño officially became the Prime Minister of Belize on 12 November 2020. He is the first prime minister who is not from Belize City.
In July 2021, Briceño's government passed a new law. This law set a fixed seven-year term for the Governor-General of Belize. During the discussion about this law, he said that Belize should think about changing from a monarchy to a republic.
In March 2025, Briceño and the PUP won the 2025 Belizean general election. He was sworn in again as Prime Minister the very next day.
Personal Life
Briceño is married to Rossana Briceño. She graduated from Muffles College in 1986. They have three sons together.
On 24 November 2020, about two weeks after becoming prime minister, he announced he had COVID-19. He said he was feeling well. On 1 February 2022, it was announced that Briceño tested positive for COVID-19 again.
Honours
: The Order of Propitious Clouds with Grand Cordon
See also
In Spanish: Johnny Briceño para niños
