Dean Oliver Barrow, the father of incarcerated rapper Shyne, has become the first Black Prime Minister of Belize.

Belize is a small Central American country that voted for Barrow over incumbent Prime Minister Said Musa, who was dogged by allegations of embezzlement and financial negligence in recent years.

In a swearing in ceremony in Friday, Barrow pledged to do his best for the collective good will of the nation.
 
“I, Dean Oliver Barrow, do swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Belize and will uphold the Constitution and the law and that I will conscientiously, impartially, and to the best of my ability discharge my duties as the Prime Minister of Belize and do right to all manner of people without fear or favor, affection or ill will, so help me God,” he said.

Barrow assured the nation that he would restore integrity to the office, according to Belize paper The Amandala.

 “People want upright honest and straight governance. That is going to be my greatest commitment – what I most want to deliver on – what I will not rest until I feel that I can say to people, ‘We did what we said in terms of bringing back honesty and integrity,” he stated.

Barrow is the father of four children, with the eldest being Jamal "Shyne" Barrow. Shyne, a former rapper on Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Bad Boy Records, is currently serving a prison sentence in the United States of America.

The rapper was sentenced to 10 years after he was convicted of weapons and assault charges stemming from a shootout at a New York club where he was with Diddy and then-girlfriend Jennifer “J-Lo” Lopez.  

Shyne is serving his time at the Woodbourne Correctional Facility in New York.

Father Barrow and son are now indelibly etched in history, albeit different ways.

Dean Barrow, as a representative of the UDP Government, won a momentous triumph, winning 25 out of 31 seats in the general election on February 7, 2008. He was sworn in on February 8.