Cornelius Dueck - Founder of National Reform Party

Family Background

Cornelius Dueck was born to the late Abraham Dueck and his mother Mrs. Margaret Dueck, who still resides in Spanish Lookout.  His parents lived in Mexico and came to Belize in 1958. They had 12 sons and 3 daughters of which 10 men and 2 women remain. His father was a prosperous businessman who started out producing eggs.

Cornelius was born in 1962.  He grew up under the Mennonite system where boys worked for their fathers until the age of 21.  He started school at the age of 7 and completed the schooling that his community offered.  His father was a visionary man.  He gave Cornelius the opportunity to further his education. After school hours he helped in the mechanical service of vehicles.

Business Background

He lived his life to the extreme and reformed the nature of his community, of which he continues to contribute tremendously. He was active in the development of the Mennonite system and contributed greatly in its development, bringing them into the new modern era. Holding onto to the beliefs of his father that he was/is a great leader he persevered through life. At the age of 15 he was already overhauling truck engines by himself.  At 16, he was driving a tow head truck all over the country.  The turning point in his life was his 21st birthday where he started to clear land for himself to farm beans and corn.  Two years later, he started mining “white mall” or “limestone”.  In 1984 he started a new company, General Automotive at Spanish Lookout and invested into other areas of commerce and trade.  He later opened two more branches of General Automotive the first in 1993 in Belize City and later in 1999 in Orange Walk Town. These businesses are still in operational and prospering in the trade and commerce industry of Belize and central regions.

Family Life

By the time he married his first girlfriend Ruth Valdez he was the biggest farmer in Spanish Lookout.  He had acquired some 300 acres of land that he was farming.  Ruth and Cornelius  are still happily married with three wonderful kids: Betty 17, Randy 16, and Kaylany 12 yrs. of age. They strongly believe in education, and presently Betty is pursuing a degree in business administration at Galen University.  Randy is in High School and Kaylany is in her last year in Upper School

Serving the People

Cornelius is a Belizean who has a loving heart for his fellow Belizeans.  In 1983 he became a Justice of the Peace to serve the community.  In 1999 he became an EMT [Emergency Medical Technician], through the Rotary Club, certified by the Ministry of Health. Besides these achievements Cornelius helped individuals to better their lives and their community by sharing his farming equipment to build many roads in the different villages; in turn making these individuals financially independent to this day. 

Political Background

1982 marks his first involvement in politics as a strong supporter for the UDP [United Democratic Party], but it was not until 1997 that he ran in a UDP convention to become a representative for the UDP in the Cayo Central area.  It was most unfortunate that he lost due to Party corruption [ballots were deliberately changed].  He kept working with the UDP, but not whole-heartedly as he felt betrayed and used.  He continuously sought God’s will for his life in the political arena.

Finally in 2003 God called Cornelius to launch a new political party in Belize.  He sought advice from many experienced leaders in this nation as well as abroad.  In the first term of this year, 2006, the platform was set and a Core Group was established to start “birthing” what is now NRP, The National Reform Party of Belize, with himself as Party Leader.  The Core Group members have strong Biblical values and godly convictions that provide the party with its foundational ideals and principles.  Even though, the party does not represent the Protestant Church in Belize, its world view for the implementation of its political agenda and action is firmly sustained in the Word of God. 

The party machinery is being set in place to contest the upcoming elections with a full slate of 31 Standard Bearers.  The greatest contribution to our country Belize will be to make a positive change and lead Belize into becoming a developing and leading nation in our Central American and Caribbean Region and the World at-large in the timing that God allows.