detractors called him "Minister of Everything" during this period because he was a particularly high-profile spokesman for the Esquivel government. After the UDP's devastating 1998 election loss in which he was one of only three UDP winners, Barrow was elevated to UDP party leader and Leader of the Opposition, succeeding the defeated Esquivel. Barrow presided over the smallest oppositions (three and seven respectively) in the House of Representatives since 1974 and ever in the UDP's history. Barrow was reelected in 1998 and 2003 by closer margins than his previous elections over attorney Richard "Dickie" Bradley. He has since been re-elected by comfortable majorities. Prior to his retirement in 2020, Barrow was the most senior member of the UDP delegation in the Belize House as well as the Area Representative with the longest tenure of uninterrupted service. Among other Area Representatives, only Said Musa has had a longer cumulative time in office. Prime Minister of Belize The UDP won a massive victory, with 25 out of 31 seats, in the general election held on 7 February 2008, and Barrow was sworn in as Prime Minister on 8 February. He is the country's first black Prime Minister. He announced his Cabinet, including himself as Minister of Finance, on 11 February. The UDP won a reduced majority in the 2012 general election and Barrow started his second term as Prime Minister on 9 March 2012. He announced his cabinet, including himself as the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, on 12 March 2012. Barrow led the UDP to a third consecutive general election victory in November 2015, however he stated the election would be his last as party leader. Retirement in 2020 Citing health issues, Barrow initially said he would step down as prime minister no later than the end of 2019 and hinted he could do so earlier. However, on 18 November 2018, Barrow's Cabinet urged him to remain as Prime Minister of Belize until the 2020 Belizean general election. He said that he would take that move. A convention to name Barrow's successor as UDP party leader was tentatively scheduled for May 2019, but in August 2019, the UDP postponed the date to 9 February 2020. There were two confirmed candidates for the leadership convention, with the first one being Deputy Prime Minister, Patrick Faber and the other being National Security Minister, John Saldivar. Barrow also stood down from his House