Theodore Aranda

Education and UDP career

Aranda holds a Ph.D. and worked with the Belize branch of the CARE organization. In 1974 he joined the newly formed United Democratic Party and quickly rose up the ranks. In 1979 he was one of the five representatives elected for the UDP, representing the Dangriga constituency. He was elected UDP leader as the previous leader, Dean Lindo, was defeated for re-election in the Fort George constituency. After a stormy stint as the country's first post-independence Leader of the Opposition, Aranda was either ousted from or resigned UDP leadership in late 1982, leaving the party entirely shortly thereafter.

Christian Democratic Party and move to the PUP

Aranda briefly revived the Christian Democratic Party in 1983 and unsuccessfully sought re-election in Dangriga under its banner in 1984, finishing third with 24.3 percent of the vote. He went on to join the People's United Party and re-captured the Dangriga seat as its candidate in 1989. Russell "Chiste" Garcia defeated him for the seat in 1993, but Aranda won a third non-consecutive term in 1998. He was not a candidate for re-election in 2003. Since Belize's 1981 independence from Great Britain Aranda is the only person to win election to the Belize House as a candidate for both the UDP and the PUP.

World Garifuna Organization

In 2000 Aranda formed the World Garifuna Organization, a body claiming to represent Garinagu across the world and in Belize, though the official Belize body is the National Garifuna Council. Aranda has been at odds with younger members of the Garinagu population.