{{Short description|Belizean politician (1934–2022)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Theodore Aranda | image = | office = Leader of the Opposition | monarch = Elizabeth II | governor_general = Dame Elmira Minita Gordon | prime_minister = George Cadle Price | term_start = 21 September 1981 | term_end = December 1982 | predecessor = (office established) | successor = Curl Thompson | office2 = Member of the Belize House of Representatives for Dangriga | term_start2 = 27 August 1998 | term_end2 = 5 March 2003 | predecessor2 = Russell Garcia | successor2 = Sylvia Flores | office3 = Member of the Belize House of Representatives for Dangriga | term_start3 = 4 September 1989 | term_end3 = 30 June 1993 | predecessor3 = Simeon Sampson | successor3 = Russell Garcia | office4 = Member of the Belize House of Representatives for Dangriga | term_start4 = 21 November 1979 | term_end4 = 14 December 1984 | predecessor4 = Paul Guerrero | successor4 = Simeon Sampson | birth_name = Theodore Roosevelt Aranda | birth_date = 1934 | birth_place = Stann Creek Town, British Honduras<br />(now Dangriga, Belize) | death_date = {{Death year and age|2022|1934|07}} | death_place = Belize | party = People's United Party (after 1984)<br />Christian Democratic Party (1983–1984)<br />United Democratic Party (until 1983) | spouse = | alma_mater = University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign }}
'''Theodore Roosevelt''' "'''Ted'''" '''Aranda''' (1934 – July 2022)<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Aranda|first=Theodore Roosevelt|url=https://i-share-uiu.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01CARLI_UIU/1n2ls18/alma99609036212205899|title=The Arts in Education|publisher=University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign|year=1967|type=M.A. Thesis|oclc=501084491}}</ref> was a Belizean politician and Garifuna activist.
== Education and UDP career ==
Aranda held an M.A. (1967) and a Ph.D. (1971) in Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite thesis|last=Aranda|first=Theodore Roosevelt|title=Thorstein Veblen on Education|publisher=University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign|year=1971|type=Ph.D. Thesis|hdl=2142/62519|oclc=223412813}}</ref> He worked with the Belizean branch of the CARE organization. In 1974, he joined the newly formed United Democratic Party and quickly rose up the ranks. In 1979, he was one of the five representatives elected for the UDP, representing the Dangriga constituency. He was elected UDP leader as the previous leader, Dean Lindo, was defeated for re-election in the Fort George constituency. After a stormy stint as the country's first post-independence Leader of the Opposition, Aranda was either ousted or resigned from the UDP leadership in late 1982, leaving the party entirely shortly thereafter.
== Christian Democratic Party and move to the PUP ==
Aranda briefly revived the Christian Democratic Party in 1983 and unsuccessfully sought re-election in Dangriga under its banner in 1984, finishing third with 24.3 percent of the vote. He went on to join the People's United Party and re-captured the Dangriga seat as its candidate in 1989. Russell "Chiste" Garcia defeated him for the seat in 1993, but Aranda won a third non-consecutive term in 1998. He was not a candidate for re-election in 2003. Since Belize's 1981 independence from Great Britain Aranda was the only person to win election to the Belize House as a candidate for both the UDP and the PUP.
== World Garifuna Organization ==
In 2000, Aranda formed the World Garifuna Organization, a body claiming to represent Garinagu across the world and in Belize, though the official Belizean body is the National Garifuna Council.
Aranda had been at odds with younger members of the Garinagu population.
==Death==
He died in July 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2022/07/10/former-united-democratic-party-leader-turned-pup-parliamentarian-dr-theodore-aranda-dies/|title=Former United Democratic Party leader turned PUP parliamentarian Dr Theodore Aranda dies|work=Breaking Belize News|first=Aaron|last=Humes|date=10 July 2022|access-date=10 July 2022}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://amandala.com.bz/news/from-the-publisher-250551/ Evan X Hyde on Aranda's influence]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aranda, Theodore}} Category:1934 births Category:2022 deaths Category:People from Dangriga Category:Garifuna people Category:People's United Party politicians Category:Christian Democratic Party (Belize) politicians Category:United Democratic Party (Belize) politicians Category:Government ministers of Belize Category:Members of the Belize House of Representatives for Dangriga Category:University of Illinois College of Education alumni Category:Belizean activists