Musa, Said

▪ prime minister of Belize

born March 19, 1944, San Ignacio, British Honduras [now Belize]

      Belizean lawyer and politician who served as prime minister of Belize (1998–2008). He was the first prime minister of Belize to be elected to two consecutive terms since the country became independent in 1981. Musa was instrumental in negotiating independence and helped to draft the country's constitution.

      Musa, of Palestinian descent, grew up in poverty in San Ignacio. After attending high school in Belize City, he traveled to England to study law at the University of Manchester, receiving an honours degree in 1966 and briefly practicing law. Returning to British Honduras in 1967, he was employed as a circuit magistrate (1967–68) and as crown counsel in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (1968–69). He later founded a private law practice and helped to establish and nurture a variety of organizations, including the Society for the Promotion of Education and Research.

      After an unsuccessful run for parliament in 1974, Musa was appointed to the Senate, where he served until 1979. He held a series of government posts before becoming head of the People's United Party (PUP), which he led to victory in national elections in 1998 and again in 2003. Although he was praised for aiding the country's transition to independence, his later years as prime minister were marred by a flagging economy and allegations of corruption within his government. In February 2008 Musa lost his reelection bid to United Democratic Party candidate Dean Barrow. He subsequently resigned his leadership of the PUP.

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