by Patrick E. Jones
Caribbean Net News Belize Correspondent
Email: patrick@caribbeannetnews.com

BELIZE CITY, Belize: The opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) won general elections in Belize on Thursday.

Dean Barrow, 56, will be sworn in as the country's fourth Prime Minister on Friday afternoon.

In an interview on national radio and television a few minutes after midnight on Friday morning, Prime Minister-elect Barrow said Thursday's victory did not come as a big surprise.

Barrow, an attorney by profession, said he could sense victory long before the close of polling on Thursday.

In his victory speech, Barrow said Thursday's UDP win was the result of many factors, including the media which kept the people's minds focussed on the issues and "shining the light of truth on issues." 

Barrow says he will consult with his party over the weekend, and will inform the Governor General on Monday of his choices for the new cabinet.

The new cabinet is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday at Belize House in Belmopan.

Barrow told independent radio Love FM that he does not expect his cabinet to be larger than sixteen members and he said members who were previously elected, seven in all, will get precidence in terms of getting a seat in cabinet.

Barrow says he will also look at geographic and ethnic balance when naming his cabinet.