Laura Longsworth Proposed for Speaker of the House

Laura Longsworth

A successor for House Speaker Michael Peyrefitte has been proposed, but will be made official at the next sitting of the House of Representatives.  That person is retired nurse Laura Longsworth who is well-known for her activism in cancer and HIV/AIDS awareness.  Peyrefitte takes over on January first.

Dean Barrow

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“I think Michael Peyrefitte was without a doubt the best Speaker of the modern era in this country.  I’m pleased to tell you that at Cabinet we considered and approved a decision to propose to the House, because the Speaker has to be elected by the House and it’s not just a matter for the government’s side, we will propose to the House at the first meeting in the New Year, the election of Mrs. Laura Longsworth to be Speaker of the House.  Now those of you who are familiar with Mrs. Longsworth will know that she is a Belizean woman of great accomplishment, of great distinction.  I believe she has a Masters Degree in nursing and administration, she’s a retired nurse, head of the Belize Cancer Society and chair of the National AIDS Commission.  I know she not too long ago was the recipient of an honor, I’m not sure whether it was the Queen’s and I’m not sure what the rank was, whether it was the MBE but she certainly was, her services to this country were already recognized and in fact rewarded by the bestowal of this Queen’s honor.  We have no doubt that Mrs. Longsworth who is not a partisan will be absolutely like that old referee Mills Lane, fair but firm.”