Dr. Theodore "Ted" Aranda (born in Dangriga

Dangriga

Dangriga, formerly known as Stann Creek Town, is a town in southern Belize, located on the Caribbean coast at the mouth of Stann Creek. It is the capital of Belize's Stann Creek District and also the largest town in southern Belize...

 Town, Stann Creek District

Stann Creek District

Stann Creek District is a district in the south east region of Belize. According to the 2010 census, the district had a population of 32,166 people...

) is a Belize

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 politician.

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

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:...

 and quickly rose up the ranks. In 1979 he was one of the 5 representatives elected for the UDP, representing Dangriga. He was elected leader of the UDP and leader of the opposition

Leader of the Opposition, Belize

The Leader of the Opposition of Belize is an elected official who, according to the Constitution, "commands the support of those elected officials that do not support the Government." He or she speaks on behalf of the Opposition Members of Belize's House of Representatives.- Leaders of the...

 after UDP leader Dean Lindo

Dean Lindo

Dean Lindo is a Belizean lawyer and politician. He was one of the founding members of the United Democratic Party of Belize and was its leader from 1974 to 1979.Lindo is a member of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn....

 lost his seat. After a stormy four year term, Aranda was either ousted from or left the UDP in 1982.

Christian Democratic Party and move to the PUP

Aranda formed a short-lived Christian Democratic Party and unsuccessfully contested the 1984 general elections. He went on to join the People's United Party

People'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....

and won election from the Dangriga seat in 1989. Russell 'Chiste' Garcia defeated him for the seat in 1993.

World Garifuna Organization

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.