It was a small event, not attended by any great measure of fanfare - but an important one - and 7News was there:

Jules Vasquez Reporting

Prime Minister designate Dean Barrow arrived at the GG's residence shortly after ten accompanied by his wife and daughter.

In short order, he proceeded to take the oath of office:

Prime Minister Dean Barrow - Newly Sworn In for Second Consecutive Term
"I, Dean Oliver Barrow, do swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Belize; and will uphold the constitution and laws; 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 signed the oath and then the instrument of appointment, which is countersigned by the Head Of State, and with that, Prime Minister Dean Barrow entered his second consecutive term as Prime Minister - the first UDP leader to do so - worthy of a salutary greeting from the Governor General - who once taught the young Dean Barrow.

H.E. Sir Colville Young - Governor General Of Belize
"I want to congratulate you and your party for your victory. I trust that it will be a victory not for the party, but for Belize, and that the new term, will be as fruitful for the prosperity and well-being of Belize. Once again, I offer congratulations to you and your team of valued partners."

Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"I sincerely thank you, Excellency, for your most kind and gracious words."

After the pleasantries - the Prime Minister posed for a family photo - with his older children from a previous marriage - and then spoke to the press about today and the days ahead:

Marion Ali - Love News
"You are now officially the Right Honorable Prime Minister of Belize. This puts you in the ranks of Mr. Esquivel, Mr. Barrow, and Mr. Price. What does this mean for you?"

Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"It's a great honor, and I certainly appreciate it. I thank the Belizean people."

Marion Ali - Love News
"My next question involves a lot of ifs. Are you aware that the PUP is taking the matter to the court with reference to at least 2 of the seats, Cayo Northeast, and Cayo Central? If the court allows that recount, and if those recounts result in a swing, where they get the majority, what does that do to this exercise?"

Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"Clearly, it would throw open the whole thing - put things very much up in the air - but I quite honestly don't see that happening at all. And I don't think that there is any purpose engaging in idle speculation."

Jules Vasquez
"For the first time in memory, the Opposition has not conceded."

Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"I really think it's a bad show on their part, but it's not a day for me to be dealing with the negatives at all. I am very happy at this morning's ceremony, very happy at the fact that we have won a second term, and I prefer to leave it at that."

For now the Prime Minister has to focus on assembling his cabinet - and that means the right senatorial appointments:

Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"My ideal configuration, when I was trying to come up with ministry rationalization and re-alignments gave me an optimum figure of 16 ministries. Under the constitution there can only be 11 of elected members appointed as ministers and only 4 senators appointed as ministers. So that means that I can only have a total of 15 ministers. There can't be 16 ministries with 15 ministers. It wouldn't make logical sense, so I am constrained in the circumstances to settle for 15 ministries, and of the 15 ministers to head those ministries. Under the constitution, 4 must come from the senate."

Jules Vasquez
"Now, is there a system that you are looking at. Will your considerations be weighted by the fact that, for example, Manuel Heredia Jr. is now a 3-term representative, and he is the standing minister of tourism, as opposed to perhaps a new-comer who might dispose to that ministry? I don't want to cloud your - or look into your deliberations too much, but how do you weight it."

Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"You are making a very good point, while I want to try to operate on the basis of balance, and of getting the best possible team, the fit will - to some extent have to be dictated by that kind of reality. Heredia Jr., who in circumstances - for whatever reasons- there was a swing away from the Government - was able to hold onto his seat so very strongly, has served in the position of Minister of Tourism, including during the last year when there was a kind of break-out year - at least a swing back from what had happened of the recession. Without tipping my hand, I would have to say that within that specific case, Heredia Jr. must be the front-runner to be re-appointed Minister of Tourism. And those kinds of factoring seniority with questions of geography - that will be the exercise that hopefully the salt water and sea breeze in Placencia will allow me contemplate successfully."

Marion Ali - Love News
"Is it an automatic thing that Mr. Vega, being the Deputy Party Leader, will be the Deputy Prime Minister?"

Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"Yes, that is automatic in my view."

Jules Vasquez
"And is it automatic, since every deputy prime minister in memory, has been the minister of natural resources, which that too will follow, considering that he was - up until election - that ministry?"

Prime Minister Dean Barrow
"I would fully expect that yes, he would continue also as minister as natural resources."

And after that, a group of well-wishers greeted him outside for hugs and handshakes.

The Prime Minister will announce his new Cabinet at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon in Belmopan.

We note that presently Prime Minister Barrow is not "The Right Honourable." He surely will be soon, as it is a title conferred by the Queen to Prime Ministers who have earned a second term - but it has not yet been conferred.