Lisa Shoman
Encyclopedia
Lisa Shoman is a Belize
an lawyer and politician and the Foreign Minister
of Belize from 2007 to 2008. She was previously the Permanent Representative of Belize to the Organisation of American States and served concurrently as Ambassador
to the United States
from 24 August 2000 until 5 June 2007, when she was appointed Foreign Minister. She was the first woman Ambassador of Belize to the United States. At the same time she was made a member of the Senate of Belize
on the recommendation of Prime Minister Said Musa
.
(Mona Campus) and the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica
. She was called to the bar in October 1988, and appointed Crown Counsel in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (July 1988), serving for over a year before entering private practice. She was elected the first female president of the Bar Association of Belize in 1996. While in her mid-30’s, Shoman was appointed to Chair the Board of Directors of Belize Telecommunications Limited (1998–2000).
In December 2009, she was elevated to the rank of Senior Counsel
by the Chief Justice
of Belize, Dr Abdulai Conteh.
of Belize to Canada
until 2003. She was also appointed Belize’s Ambassador to the United States
in August 2000. During her tenure, Shoman served as Vice-Chair of the Permanent Council of the OAS.
, ceded power in 2008, when she returned to private practice.
Shoman has remained an active advocate, heading the legal team challenging controversial Constitutional changes proposed by the ruling United Democratic Party
. When Prime Minister Dean Barrow
alleged that his predecessor, Said Musa had secretly diverted public funds and charged him with theft, Shoman was on the legal team that ensured Musa’s acquittal.
, appointed Shoman as a senator for a second time in 2009.
): Orden del Águila Azteca The Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle in the Grade of Band, June 16, 2005
Condecoration – The Republic of Nicaragua: The Order of Jose de Marcoleta in the Grade of Grand Cross, November 30, 2005
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
an lawyer and politician and the Foreign Minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
of Belize from 2007 to 2008. She was previously the Permanent Representative of Belize to the Organisation of American States and served concurrently as Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 24 August 2000 until 5 June 2007, when she was appointed Foreign Minister. She was the first woman Ambassador of Belize to the United States. At the same time she was made a member of the Senate of Belize
Senate of Belize
The Senate is one of the chambers of the National Assembly. It has 12 members appointed for a five year term by the Governor General.- Establishment and appointment :Senators are appointed by the Governor General in the following manner:...
on the recommendation of Prime Minister Said Musa
Said Musa
Said Wilbert Musa is a Belizean lawyer and politician. He was the Prime Minister of Belize from August 28, 1998 to February 8, 2008.-Early life and education:Said Musa was born in San Ignacio, Cayo District, Belize...
.
Legal career
Shoman completed her primary and secondary education in her native Belize, followed by legal studies at the University of the West IndiesUniversity of the West Indies
The University of the West Indies , is an autonomous regional institution supported by and serving 17 English-speaking countries and territories in the Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica,...
(Mona Campus) and the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
. She was called to the bar in October 1988, and appointed Crown Counsel in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (July 1988), serving for over a year before entering private practice. She was elected the first female president of the Bar Association of Belize in 1996. While in her mid-30’s, Shoman was appointed to Chair the Board of Directors of Belize Telecommunications Limited (1998–2000).
In December 2009, she was elevated to the rank of Senior Counsel
Senior Counsel
The title of Senior Counsel or State Counsel is given to a senior barrister or advocate in some countries, typically equivalent to the title "Queen's Counsel" used in Commonwealth Realms...
by the Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of Belize, Dr Abdulai Conteh.
Diplomacy and Ambassadorship
Her first national appointment came in 2000 when she became Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Belize to the Organization of American States on August 25, 2000, and she served concurrently as High CommissionerHigh Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
of Belize to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
until 2003. She was also appointed Belize’s Ambassador to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in August 2000. During her tenure, Shoman served as Vice-Chair of the Permanent Council of the OAS.
Appointment to the Senate & Foreign Ministry
In June 2007, then Prime Minister Said Musa appointed her to the Senate, and made her the country’s first female Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade. Shoman held this position until Musa’s party, the People's United PartyPeople's United Party
The People's United Party is one of two major political parties in Belize, and currently the main opposition party. It is a Christian Democratic party; the current Party Leader is Francis Fonseca....
, ceded power in 2008, when she returned to private practice.
Shoman has remained an active advocate, heading the legal team challenging controversial Constitutional changes proposed by the ruling United Democratic Party
United Democratic Party (Belize)
The United Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in Belize, and currently the ruling party, having won the 2008 general elections. A centre-right conservative party, it is currently led by Dean Barrow.-Founding:...
. When Prime Minister Dean Barrow
Dean Barrow
Dean Oliver Barrow is Prime Minister of Belize and leader of the United Democratic Party. An attorney by trade, he served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1993 to 1998 and was then Leader of the Opposition until the UDP won the February 2008 election...
alleged that his predecessor, Said Musa had secretly diverted public funds and charged him with theft, Shoman was on the legal team that ensured Musa’s acquittal.
Second Appointment to the Senate
Leader of the Opposition, John BriceñoJohn Briceño
Juan Antonio Briceño, commonly known as "John" or "Johnny" , is a Belizean politician who has been the leader of the People's United Party , as well as the Leader of the Opposition, since 2008. Previously, he was Deputy Prime Minister from 1998 to 2007.-Political career of Briceno:Briceño was born...
, appointed Shoman as a senator for a second time in 2009.
Awards
Condecoration – The United Mexican States (MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
): Orden del Águila Azteca The Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle in the Grade of Band, June 16, 2005
Condecoration – The Republic of Nicaragua: The Order of Jose de Marcoleta in the Grade of Grand Cross, November 30, 2005