Quick Facts
Biography
Erwin Rafael "Winchi" Contreras (born 9 July 1966) is a Belizean politician and former footballer. From 2008 to 2012 he was the Minister of Economic Development, Commerce, Industry and Consumer Protection in Belize. After the 2012 election he was made Minister of Trade Investment, Private Sector Development and Consumer Protection. He was born in Benque Viejo del Carmen, Cayo District, Belize.
Contreras is currently second in the line of succession to Prime Minister Dean Barrow, behind Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega. He belongs to the United Democratic Party.
Contreras is a former member of the Belize national football team. He played in both of Belize's 1998 World Cup qualification games against Panama in 1996.
Electoral history
Contreras was first elected to the Belize House of Representatives in 1998, defeating Amin Hegar of the People's United Party by 10 votes. Bucking a national trend, Contreras was the only UDP candidate to defeat a PUP House incumbent in 1998 and one of only three UDP members elected nationwide that year. Contreras has won re-election with at least 54 percent of the vote in every election since.