# Mesopotamia (Belize House constituency)

Mesopotamia, sometimes abbreviated as Mesop, is an electoral constituency in the Belize District represented in the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belize since 2025 by Lee Mark Chang of the United Democratic Party (UDP).

## Profile

The Mesopotamia constituency was created for the 1961 general election as part of a major nationwide redistricting. It currently comprises much of central Belize City, surrounded by the Collet, Queen's Square and Albert constituencies. The UDP has continuously held Mesopotamia since the 1979 general election, longer than any other constituency. It is widely considered a strong UDP safe seat.
Longtime representative Michael Finnegan stood down at the 2020 general election and was succeeded by his nephew, internationally known rapper Shyne Barrow. In 2025, Shyne lost re-election to Lee Mark Chang. The former subsequently resigned as party leader of the UDP.

## Area representatives

| Election | Area representative | Party |
| 1961 | C. L. B. Rogers | PUP |
| 1965 | C. L. B. Rogers | PUP |
| 1969 | C. L. B. Rogers | PUP |
| 1974 | C. L. B. Rogers | PUP |
| 1979 | Curl Thompson | UDP |
| 1984 | Curl Thompson | UDP |
| 1989 | Curl Thompson | UDP |
| 1993 | Michael Finnegan | UDP |
| 1998 | Michael Finnegan | UDP |
| 2003 | Michael Finnegan | UDP |
| 2008 | Michael Finnegan | UDP |
| 2012 | Michael Finnegan | UDP |
| 2015 | Michael Finnegan | UDP |
| 2020 | Shyne Barrow | UDP |
| 2025 | Lee Mark Chang | UDP |

## Elections

| Election | Political result | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | ±% |
| 2020 general election Electorate: 2,277 Turnout: 1,715 (75.32%) −3.47 | UDP hold Majority: 159 (9.27%) -46.56 | Shyne Barrow | UDP | 910 | 53.06 | −23.82 |
| 2020 general election Electorate: 2,277 Turnout: 1,715 (75.32%) −3.47 | UDP hold Majority: 159 (9.27%) -46.56 | (Dr.) Candice Pitts | PUP | 751 | 43.79 | +22.74 |
| 2015 general election Electorate: 3,711 Turnout: 2,128 (57.34%) −3.47 | UDP hold Majority: 1,188 (55.83%) -8.93 | Michael Finnegan | UDP | 1,636 | 76.88 | −4.72 |
| 2015 general election Electorate: 3,711 Turnout: 2,128 (57.34%) −3.47 | UDP hold Majority: 1,188 (55.83%) -8.93 | Dorla Vaughan | PUP | 448 | 21.05 | +4.21 |
| 2012 general election Electorate: 3,710 Turnout: 2,256 (60.81%) −5.21 | UDP hold Majority: 1,461 (64.76%) +9.99 | Michael Finnegan | UDP | 1,841 | 81.60 | +4.68 |
| 2012 general election Electorate: 3,710 Turnout: 2,256 (60.81%) −5.21 | UDP hold Majority: 1,461 (64.76%) +9.99 | Philip Palacio | PUP | 380 | 16.84 | −5.31 |
| 2008 general election Electorate: 3,255 Turnout: 2,149 (66.02%) −3.86 | UDP hold Majority: 1,177 (54.77%) +20.4 | Michael Finnegan | UDP | 1,653 | 76.92 | +10.0 |
| 2008 general election Electorate: 3,255 Turnout: 2,149 (66.02%) −3.86 | UDP hold Majority: 1,177 (54.77%) +20.4 | Austin Waight | PUP | 476 | 22.15 | −10.4 |
| 2003 general election Electorate: 2,178 Turnout: 1,892 (69.88%) −14.3 | UDP hold Majority: 526 (34.37%) +20.1 | Michael Finnegan | UDP | 1,024 | 66.92 | +10.34 |
| 2003 general election Electorate: 2,178 Turnout: 1,892 (69.88%) −14.3 | UDP hold Majority: 526 (34.37%) +20.1 | Philip Brackett | PUP | 498 | 32.55 | −9.76 |
| 1998 general election Electorate: 1,707 Turnout: 1,437 (84.18%) +26.81 | UDP hold Majority: 205 (14.27%) −1.73 | Michael Finnegan | UDP | 813 | 56.58 | −1.42 |
| 1998 general election Electorate: 1,707 Turnout: 1,437 (84.18%) +26.81 | UDP hold Majority: 205 (14.27%) −1.73 | Gilbert Ray Lightburn | PUP | 608 | 42.31 | +0.31 |
| 1998 general election Electorate: 1,707 Turnout: 1,437 (84.18%) +26.81 | UDP hold Majority: 205 (14.27%) −1.73 | Lisburn Earl Peters | PDP | 9 | 0.63 | - |
| 1993 general election Electorate: 3,052 Turnout: 1,751 (57.37%) +1.66 | UDP hold Majority: 281 (16.0%) +8.3 | Michael Finnegan | UDP | 1,016 | 58.0 | +4.9 |
| 1993 general election Electorate: 3,052 Turnout: 1,751 (57.37%) +1.66 | UDP hold Majority: 281 (16.0%) +8.3 | Steve Latchman | PUP | 735 | 42.0 | −3.4 |
| 1989 general election Electorate: 2,818 Turnout: 1,570 (55.71%) −5.43 | UDP hold Majority: 121 (7.7%) −30.8 | Curl Thompson | UDP | 834 | 53.1 | −15.3 |
| 1989 general election Electorate: 2,818 Turnout: 1,570 (55.71%) −5.43 | UDP hold Majority: 121 (7.7%) −30.8 | Steve Latchman | PUP | 713 | 45.4 | +15.5 |
| 1984 general election Electorate: 2,460 Turnout: 1,504 (61.14%) −26.0 | UDP hold Majority: 38.5% (+34.4) | Curl Thompson | UDP | | 68.4 | +17.1 |
| 1984 general election Electorate: 2,460 Turnout: 1,504 (61.14%) −26.0 | UDP hold Majority: 38.5% (+34.4) | Myrtle Palacio | PUP | | 29.9 | −17.3 |
| 1979 general election Electorate: 2,489 Turnout: 2,169 (87.14%) +14.89 | UDP gain from PUP Majority: 4.1% (−4.7) | Curl Thompson | UDP | | 51.3 | +6.9 |
| 1979 general election Electorate: 2,489 Turnout: 2,169 (87.14%) +14.89 | UDP gain from PUP Majority: 4.1% (−4.7) | C. L. B. Rogers | PUP | | 47.2 | −5.5 |
| 1974 general election Electorate: 2,281 Turnout: 1,648 (72.25%) +8.65 | PUP hold Majority: 8.8% (−0.7) | C. L. B. Rogers | PUP | | 52.7 | −1.2 |
| 1974 general election Electorate: 2,281 Turnout: 1,648 (72.25%) +8.65 | PUP hold Majority: 8.8% (−0.7) | Curl Thompson | UDP | | 44.4 | - |
| 1969 general election Electorate: 2,066 Turnout: 1,314 (63.6%) −7.07 | PUP hold Majority: 9.5% (+3.4) | C. L. B. Rogers | PUP | | 53.9 | +1.7 |
| 1969 general election Electorate: 2,066 Turnout: 1,314 (63.6%) −7.07 | PUP hold Majority: 9.5% (+3.4) | Colville Young | NIP | | 43.9 | −2.2 |
| 1965 general election Electorate: 3,396 Turnout: 2,400 (70.67%) −9.02 | PUP hold Majority: 6.1% (−27.9) | C. L. B. Rogers | PUP | | 52.2 | −10.2 |
| 1965 general election Electorate: 3,396 Turnout: 2,400 (70.67%) −9.02 | PUP hold Majority: 6.1% (−27.9) | Colville Young | NIP | | 46.1 | +17.7 |
| 1961 general election Electorate: 2,501 Turnout: 1,993 (79.69%) n/a | PUP win Majority: 34.0% (n/a) | C. L. B. Rogers | PUP | | 62.4 | - |
| 1961 general election Electorate: 2,501 Turnout: 1,993 (79.69%) n/a | PUP win Majority: 34.0% (n/a) | Erlean Casasola | NIP | | 28.4 | - |
| 1961 general election Electorate: 2,501 Turnout: 1,993 (79.69%) n/a | PUP win Majority: 34.0% (n/a) | Edward Usher | CDP | | 8.6 | - |