Francis Fonseca

Francis William Fonseca is a Belizean politician who has served as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Education, Culture, Science and Technology since 2024. He served as leader of the People's United Party (PUP) and as Leader of the Opposition of Belize from 2011 to 2016.

Early life and education Fonseca attended St. John's College in Belize City and the University of Southwestern Louisiana, where he received a bachelor's degree in economics. In 1994, Fonseca received a law degree from the University of the West Indies.

Career Fonseca was first elected to the Belize House of Representatives from the Belize City-based Freetown constituency in 2003. He served as Attorney General and Minister of Education, Culture and Labour in Prime Minister Said Musa's cabinet until February 2008, when the PUP lost the general election to the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP). Fonseca was one of only six PUP representatives nationwide to retain his seat in the National Assembly in the 2008 election.

Following the election defeat and subsequent resignation of Musa from the PUP leadership in March 2008, the party held a convention to select its new leader. Fonseca was a candidate for the party leadership at this convention, and he was considered to be the candidate preferred by the party establishment, but he was defeated by Johnny Briceño, receiving 310 votes against 330 for Briceño. Fonseca successfully contested the PUP leadership in 2011 after Briceño's resignation. He led the party in the 2012 election, in which it was narrowly defeated.