Background
Esquivel was born in Belize City when it was still the capital of the United Kingdom colony of British Honduras.
Esquivel was born in Belize City when it was still the capital of the United Kingdom colony of British Honduras.
He attended Street John"s College and later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics at Loyola University New Orleans. He subsequently pursued postgraduate studies in physics at Bristol University, England.
As leader of the United Democratic Party, he served as Prime Minister from 1984 to 1989, and then again from 1993 to 1998. After the 1969 British Honduras election Esquivel became head of the pro-business Liberal Party, which merged with two other parties in 1973 to form the United Democratic Party. Esquivel was the UDP nominee for the Belize House of Representatives in the Freetown constituency in the 1979 election, but was defeated by then-Premier of Belize George Cadle Price.
Acting opposition leader Curl Thompson stayed on as the UDP"s House leader until the next election.
He held the seat until the 1998 election, in which he was defeated by the PUP"s Jose Coye. Esquivel was appointed to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom by Queen Elizabeth II in 1986.
This life-time appointment confers the title "Right Honourable". He also holds an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Loyola University.
Esquivel is married to wife Kathleen (Kathy), with three children.
Daughter Laura has followed in her father"s footsteps as City Councillor under the UDP since March 2006.
Esquivel defeated Philip Goldson for the open UDP leadership post in January 1983, becoming the first and thus far only politician to be elected leader of a major Belizean political party as a senator
Member United Democratic; member Her Majesty"s Privy Council, 1986. Member Belize City Council, 1974-1980.
Married Kathleen Levy. Children: David, Laura, Ruth.