International Corporate Services Limited is a licensed International Financial Services Provider, a Corporate Member of the Belize International Financial Services Association and the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Authorized Agent for Ship Registration at the International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize, and an Authorized overseas agent for Anguillan IBCs. ICS Ltd. is recognized for its commitment to guaranteeing that all clients receive the highest standard of service available and that the service provided is carried out accurately, confidentially, promptly and in an efficient approach.
ICS Ltd. provides a full range of international financial services in various jurisdictions.
Services offered include but are not restricted to:
Incorporation and Management of International Business Companies including full Nominee Services
Establishment and Management of International Limited Liability Companies
Trust Establishment and Registration including full Trustee Administration
Foundation Establishment and Registration including acting as Council Member
Ship Registration
Other services being offered by ICS include:
Trademark Registration
Incorporation and Annual Maintenance of Belize Domestic Companies
Facilitating Applications under a Licensed Activity
Nominee Services
Accounting Services
Partial or full accounting services (on request)
Payment of bills
Provision of financial statements
Mail forwarding
Bank Account Services
Help in facilitating bank introduction and further assistance in establishing bank accounts in major currencies. Banking options include international banks within Belize and in other jurisdictions.
If you are looking for an excursion to see the true beauty of Belize, then Coral Breeze Tours is here to serve you. The company owner, Ivar Marchand, and his assembled team of local professionals provide the best tour with exceptional experiences like snorkeling in Caribbean waters, tubing down caves, walking through tropical rain forests, ziplining amongst the jungle canopy, exploring ancient Mayan ruins, gliding along the largest living coral reef, relaxing on breezy beaches, and sampling local cuisine in an open-air restaurant. Coral Breeze Tours offers first-rate, all-inclusive tours, provide more personalized service by limiting the size of our groups, and price our excursions at affordable rates.
Cudjoe Lagoon Estate is a new gated, resort community situated on 800+ acres of fresh water Cudjoe lagoon in Northern Belize. Such community will feature private residences, restaurant, community pool, basketball court and volleyball court, Indoor gym, Condos, Conference center, and much more. With over 100 building sites available and ample green space, Cudjoe Lagoon offers numerous opportunities.
Belizean national, Earlyn Hutchinson, better known as “Stig Da Artist”, has released his newest single “12 noon”. He was in Jamaica this past week filming the video for this latest release.
The single is available now on Apple music. Check out a preview here.
This new song will be released under the Belmopan-based Nineteen 81 Records.
If you think your idea of opening a business in a foreign country will never work, think again.
Today, I am proudly introducing to many of you, a few very young and very ambitious Belizean and Caribbean entrepreneurs who, just this year, started their business adventures in Taiwan.
When I thought of approaching entrepreneurs specifically for this blog post, there were only two names that popped up in my instant memory. The first Belizean business that came to mind was ignite_merch.tw, a brand created by Belizean entrepreneur, Josh Petillo. My thoughts then went to an Instagram Story posted not too long ago: my friend AJ, had slo-mo unveiled some taco ingredients out of a box! Which business had that intriguing unveiling belonged to, I pondered —> Tacobox!
Right then and there I had two entrepreneurs. Yes! Tacobox would become the second business that I decided would form part of my very first “entrepreneurs in Taiwan” blog.
Off I went into my Direct Messaging and sent my interview request to both. To my utter delight, out of these two businesses, I got introduced to a handful of other new entrepreneurs: Love Always Wins, Caribbean Seamoss, Irie Roots, Nidibri, Vibez Multimedia Ltd. and Belizean Flavaz. Perfect!
I felt like a real journalist, sending my interview requests and scheduling Google Meets even though I had zero idea how to even use the Google Calendar much less record the videos. Nonetheless, I was determined to continue with my mission: Showcasing the bright minds that have found the courage to make their entrepreneurial dreams a reality!
And as our interview progressed I found myself more intrigued by what I discovered. Read for yourself…
Ignite Merch – The Positive Narrative
“I wanted people to know that we are all in this together, basically as foreigners out here together, right? Let’s not have a hostile energy towards each other, right? let’s spread a positive narrative, right? help each other, be respectful and do what you have to do and just be great, be the best version of yourself.”
In early February – February 11, 2021 to be exact, Josh pressed the send button on his Instagram direct messaging and off went pictures of bright red, white and blue-colored pillows with the hot stamp “IGNITE – THE POSITIVE NARRATIVE” – on each side of the yellow stamp, the Belizean and Taiwanese flags. Josh put his faith on his friends and asked them to share the pictures on their Instagram. These quickly became popular among both Belizeans and Taiwanese alike.
His merchandize started off with the pillows, then went unto shirts and hats with designs such as: Belize as well as Belize Est. 1981, 501 with Belize’s flag and flora and fauna, Ignite Merch, among others.
As Josh puts it ” I wanted to make a statement, I wanted Belize to be known in Taiwan. So like when you hear Belize, ‘Oh I know, 我知道， 我知道！’” Pretty soon he had people asking him if he also did graduation mugs and graduation sashes…and so, his line of merchandize expanded to all you can see on his Instagram posts – my personal favorite, the Belize Est. 1981 gray windbreaker.
But the brand’s supporters are not limited to only Belizeans and Taiwanese, no no! His friends from Latin America, the Caribbean and other places also started asking; “Why don’t you do for Guatemala? Why don’t you do for Honduras？ Why don’t you do for Eswatini?” he excitedly explains, “I have no problem doing that.” He has even had customers from abroad ordering his merchandize. How cool is that?!
And if you didn’t already know, Ignite Merch does special customized designs, catering to a wider customer base. He doesn’t normally put the special custom orders on his posts, and he ensures that he asks permission from the client to even do so. Josh has his main clientele at heart, he has made his high-quality products very affordable, especially to students with tight budgets. Of course, as customers we have to factor in the shipping expense, so all in all, the prices are pretty good.
Being an entrepreneur is not easy. There may be many who start selling customized merchandize but sadly, their dream is short lived. Josh’s advice to anyone who has already started a business is: “You have to be consistent when you are doing it. Anyone with a business will tell you, it takes investment. Not only finance, it takes a lot of time as well, so you have to be consistent in everything you do.”
There is no doubt in my mind that Ignite Merch is a staple name in the Belizean diaspora in Taiwan – that is the power of Josh’s arduous and constant work and marketing savviness. To find out what went on during this exclusive interview, you will have to wait for Ignite Merch’s Special Feature Blog coming to Soul Expressions soon 😉
Orange Walk Tacos Delivered Straight to Your Doorstep – Tacobox
If you are a Belizean in Taiwan and love to look at your friend’s Instagram stories, then surely you must have seen one or two of them proudly share pictures of these colorful, mouthwatering tacos!
Tacobox is the creation of a hungry-for-Orange Walk-tacos young Belizean entrepreneur, Ginelky Gongora and her St. Lucian business partner, Nyhymn Terrance.
They had been thinking about this business opportunity for some time. It was constantly on their mind during the pandemic, especially because less people were willing to get out of their houses and go to busy areas. Also, affordable tacos were not easy to find in her area, says Ginelky. It would be like killing two birds with the same stone. One, Ginelky gets to eat tacos that remind her of home and two, she can provide affordable, great tasting tacos to people in Taiwan. She would either make the free delivery herself in the Taipei/Taoyuan area or send it delivered via 7-11, Familymart and via the Post Office. Nyhymn for his part, would take care of the business in the South, since he is based in Kaohsiung and would make the free deliveries in the Tainan and Kaohsiung areas.
So one day, Ginelky and Nyhymn were riding their scooter and the name of the business suddenly and effortlessly came to Nyhymn: Tacobox (Tacos that get delivered in a box) Makes perfect sense, right? On their way back home the next bright idea surfaced, equally as easy: their slogan would be “Reheat and Eat” Because… you get it, right?
The idea of selling precooked tacos seemed like it would work, they thought, after all, many people around the world like eating tacos! And work, it did! Despite the fact that they are both still full-time undergraduate students with homework, projects, presentations, part-time jobs and thesis on their plates, they still manage to find time and put that extra effort to ensure that Tacobox becomes a well-known name among both foreigners and Taiwanese. They ensure that the pollo asado, pork with pineapple (Al Pastor) and Cochinita Pibil can have that smoky flavor that can only come from “charcoal oil”. Their orders can be made through their Facebook page, Tacobox, and through their Instagram page.
On August, 2021, Tacobox made its debut in Taiwan. Business has being going very well so far and feedback from customers (they already have loyal customers), have helped their fan base and followers grow. They have only gotten great reviews which also motivates them to continue preparing great tasting tacos and providing great service to their valued customers. If you haven’t tasted it yet, send them a DM and remember “Just Reheat and…?”
You Never Know Who You Are Inspiring – The Story of Nidibri
“One day I watched this entrepreneur and she basically started from zero and she was growing very slowly and she was like: “Just do it. So I was like ‘Who do I know that is as passionate about hair -Azriel!’ shares Cyleen, “so I contacted her and I was like, Yo girl, like I have this idea. We sat down at a restaurant and we talked it out.”
And so Cyleen Morgan and Azriel Pinel started their journey of discovering how to formulate hair care products for Type 3 and Type 4 hair. After a lot of research, they finally launched their products into the market in Taiwan in October, 2021, a year later after that fateful meeting. Nidibri, the name of their business, is a Garifuna word for “hair”. They chose this word as one of them identifies as a Garifuna (one of Belize’s ethnic groups) and also because “it exudes a sentiment of unity and pride in embracing our natural crowns, which is one of the founding philosophies of our company.” If you look for their Instagram page you will see Nidibri preceded by the word “Sistacurlz” – that is the name of their hair care line.
During our interview, I commented to both Cyleen and Azriel that for their business to be in the market for such little time, their packaging looks so professional, I mean, take a look for yourself! This, ladies and gentlemen, is the product of extensive research and a lot of arduous time and effort spent by these two young entrepreneurs. But professional appearance does not mean you have to pay arm and leg for it. Nidibri has made the products affordable for everyone and formulated it in such a way that it will work well for all hair types.
This is probably very intriguing for some of you out there, because for as long as I have been in Taiwan and hung out with friends with these types of hair, the comments have always been the same: It is very difficult to find such products in Taiwan and they would have to be ordered from Amazon. For them, hair care comes at a high cost and requires a lot of constant tender love and care which equals to heavy investments.
No worries, dear friends, Nidibri has come to your hair’s rescue and is here to stay. These partners in business plan to expand to a complete product hairline in the not-so-distant future. Cyleen shares her personal aspirations and the limelight that keeps her going when the feelings of doubt start to lurk around: “For me it has been to expand and provide jobs… I would like for us to cultivate a company that has a culture of positivity and productivity and people that we hire, it’s not a curse for them, it’s a blessing, they love their job and feel confident that they have that job stability they are treated properly and are properly cared for.”
After hearing their full story, I want to open a business of my own! For now, I’ll stick to writing.
Not all situations are as bad as they seem – Love Always Wins
When the pandemic raised the national restriction level to 3, many students found themselves with more time on their hands as education moved to online platforms. For Jahson Phillips, originally from Belize City, Belize and now studying in Taipei, Taiwan, it was a time of reflection and inspiration. Jahson made the wise decision to “make lemonade” with the golden time and started to turn his lifelong dream into a reality.
“I’ve always had an interest in fashion, and always had the thought of opening a business related to it.” states Jahson. During his summer vacation in 2021, he started to teach himself how to create graphic designs and after sorting through a vast array of ideas, settled on “Love Always Wins.” Inspired by the lessons his father taught him and his brothers to always have a positive mindset, regardless of the situation.
Jahson’s fashion designs are also inspired by streetwear and he therefore chose oversized clothing – sweaters, T-shirts of dark colors and vintage graphics of light color contrast to represent his brand, LAW. He aims to grasp the attention of everyone who loves this trendy attire, particularly catering to teenagers and young adults.
He also spends a lot of time researching on clothing textures and materials that feel comfortable to the touch. His hope is that those who support his “project” are very satisfied with the price they are paying for the garments as well as with how they feel while wearing it.
For now, Jahson wants to learn more about his craft before he starts thinking about what’s next. He is considering options of how to best advertise his products online and exporting but he is not in a rush.
If you are into oversized streetwear and want to support a fellow Belizean, you can reach out to Jahson through his Instagram page as this is the main platform used to advertise his seasonal wear. In the future, you can also visit one of his pop-ups and try on his designs -exclusive wear that will only be found during such events. Stay on the lookout!
A delicious fusion of Caribbean and Belizean taste – Irie Roots
While we are on the topic of exclusivity, I did not manage to secure an interview with Jamaican-Belizean Sule Smith before my self-imposed deadline of publishing this article. I did, however, learn of his very inspiring story through other communication means.
Sule was born in Jamaica, where his dad used to run a Tour Guide Company with the name “Irie Routes”. At a primary-school age, Sule moved to Belize. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor degree in Mechanical and Electrical engineering in Tainan where his Jamaican patties business, also called “Irie Roots” is run. Sule wanted to honor his father’s memory by adopting the same name and because “Roots” is meant to emphasize “Never forgetting where you’re coming from.”
Sule caters particularly to the Caribbean community in Taiwan and hopes that other cultures can also have a taste of the Caribbean through his patties. If you are located in Tainan, for a small delivery fee, you can get delicious Jamaican patties delivered to your doorsteps. If you are in other parts of Taiwan, he can send your orders via 黑貓 (Hēi māo), mei you wen ti la!
Despite not having had the privilege of getting to know more about Sule and Irie Roots at the time of publishing, I was really touched by the driving force behind his business idea. When there is a will, there is a way right? Look out for his exclusive feature in the near future.
Sea weed or Sea moss – its Sea-good! ~ Rich and Thick – Caribbean Sea Moss
Childhood memories buried deep in my memory resurface when I realize that “Sea moss” is none other than “Sea weed”. For whatever reason us Belizeans have given this drink a different name, the fact remains the same, in June, 2021, it was finally made available in Taiwan and now you too can enjoy this delicious Caribbean drink within two days of ordering!
But the sea moss drink is not the only product Rich and Thick Caribbean Seamoss founder, Nyhymn Terrance, a St. Lucian entrepreneur, sells in the Taiwanese market. Sea moss gel and cheese cake are also his crafts of love. Sea moss gel, he explains, “is the base for all the products. The sea moss gel is what I use to make the cheese cake, the drinks and you could use it for many other things. Some women use it in their hair, some use it as a moisturizer, some people use it in their soups. Vegans use it in replacement of eggs, it has so many uses.”
Of course, I had never heard of sea moss gel, so the more I heard, the more questions I had about the product. Nyhymn patiently explains that I can make all sorts of smoothies with the seafood gel. As for benefits: “it helps increase your energy level, it has 92 of the 102 minerals our body needs (By this time I am mind-blown) and is classified as a super food being that its packed with so many minerals. It helps to suppress your appetite if you drink it as a morning smoothie, like, it’s really a meal by itself.” Who knew!
Nyhymn’s start-up story is a little different than the others. After he searched for seaweed for many years in the Taiwanese stores and finally found it, he started to make the drink for his own enjoyment. He posted some pictures on his social media page and immediately started getting requests from friends. They wanted to enjoy it, too! The slight nudge from his friends, who believed in his God-given ability, aided in the decision to “Why Not.”
Although he is a very busy man, he comes home every day and prepares quality original, peanut, coffee and coconut flavored sea moss drinks, sea moss gel and cheesecakes to fulfill the increasing orders. A degree in Culinary Arts has aided Nyhymn in creating the perfect blends and complete set of products. And now that he knows exactly where to purchase his ingredients for preparation and containers for packaging, business can only get better, right?
As I said in the beginning, you can order your goodies through his Instagram page and also check this post for money transfer details. Please remember to provide feedback and continue coming for more. Stay healthy, stay strong, buy Caribbean Sea moss!
Hobbies that Pay – Vibez Multimedia Ltd.
Christmas is right around the corner and you may be wondering what to do or where to go. If you are a young foreigner in the Southern part of Taiwan, chances are you’ve probably already seen one of this entrepreneur’s flyers advertising an event, a DJ or a party. That flyer probably caught your immediate attention for being so… fly!
I wouldn’t be surprised if you already figured out who the person behind these works of art is. For the rest of us in other parts of the island, the idea of finally “knowing someone” with this talent may come as a pleasant and intriguing surprise.
An engineering student at Kun Shan University, Raybert Laing, originally comes from Belize City, Belize. He juggles his time between getting good grades and honing his skills at graphic design, photography and videography for Vibez Multimedia Co., his business venture.
“I bought my first DSLR camera to do photography just as a hobby. I went out just taking pictures and getting familiar with the camera and how it works and I started watching a lot of YouTube videos to learn how to edit.”
He then started to learn how to create his own video content. Soon after, he got his first photography gig at BWA Events at which time he tried his very best and even more to leave a good impression. They saw how good he was with his photography and video skills that it wasn’t long before they asked him to join the team.
Raybert has also been asked to carry out birthday, wedding and graduation shoots and has also been asked to collaborate in some projects such as music videos. He distinctly remembers once traveling from Tainan to Yilan to complete a job. It turned out that he learnt quite a few lessons about clients, their personalities, what they look for in a hire, etc. More importantly, he feels like he grew as a photographer.
Raybert feels happy that he can count on his talents to earn some money and have a more comfortable stay in Taiwan as he finishes his last year of undergraduate studies. He is grateful to his mom for initially financially supporting him and comments that now his mom is proud of what he has become.
If before you were still unsure of who to hire for the above-mentioned creations, I hope that by now you can consider giving Vibez Multimedia a try. Remember, the greatest memories in life are said to be free but are they really? Ask anyone with a beautiful portrait on their wall if that came at no cost.
Seasonal Delights to Make Your Weekends Bright – Belizean Flavaz
Let’s see if you can solve this riddle: For those Belizean, Caribbean and Latin Americans that live in Taipei City, culture related food should be synonymous of Belizean Flavaz, Fruit Cake and Rum Popo? Belizean Flavaz. Rice and Beans on a Sunday? Belizean Flavaz! Panades, tamales, tamalitos, turkey dinner, Seré or Hudut in November? …
Although those that have already ordered from them might go like “Oh! you mean Melody?”
Melody Wagner let’s me know it’s not just her that forms part of Belizean Flavaz but all the behind-the-scenes shopping, cooking, delivering, etc. is done by her team. Even her past roommates used to play an important role in tasting and encouraging Melody to sell. And even though this past year they focused primarily on selling at culture fairs and some catering here and there, Belizean Flavaz is working on a more stable and consistent menu that will deliver delicious culture food twice a month hopefully at a predetermined and centralized location in Taipei.
The primary purposes remain:
Belize has several ethnic groups and each has different great tasting food. What’s more, we have shared culture with the Caribbean and Latin American communities that foreigners would feel a little more inclined to try it. The hope is that the wider community and locals can have the opportunity to have a taste of Belize year round.
Belizean Flavaz knows that those who live in the dorms do not have many options when cooking their own meals. Also, it would not make sense to buy so many ingredients if you are only cooking for one person (yourself). That is why they want to give those students affordable meals that make them have that closer to home feeling. Keeping in mind that the meals are literally a “labor of love”, the Belizean Flavaz team makes an effort to meet the customer halfway. Usually the deliveries are done swiftly so that whomever orders receives the food warm. Most of the time, it would be meeting at a certain MRT stop. For those catering requests, Belizean Flavaz takes the food directly to the party spot and culture fairs. The latter would be the only way Belizean Flavaz makes a slight profit.
If your concern is that you do not live in Taipei but still want to order, they are looking into delivering via 7-11. In case you are planning a trip to Taipei, don’t hesitate to contact Belizean Flavaz at least two days prior and my gial Melody and her team will hook you up!
And in order for startups to become recognizable, link building services will definitely come in handy for startup owners to promote their projects.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness has highlighted Belize’s progress in the fight against COVID-19. With slightly lowered numbers in the last few weeks, it was announced that effective Thursday, December 9, 2021, Belize will see even more relaxed curfew hours.
The curfew new hours for Belize is as follows:
Sunday through Thursday – 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.
Friday and Saturday – 12:00 a.m. (Midnight) to 4:00 a.m.
Minors shall remain in the confines of their private property from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Statutory Instrument No. 151 of 2021 Announces additional changes for entry into Belize following the announcement of the Omicron COVID-19 Variant by the World Health Organization.
In addition to the adjusted curfew hours, the updated SI states that any person entering Belize whether, through the land, air, or sea and who has traveled from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, or Zimbabwe shall be immunized and be tested in Belize in addition to being subject to a period of 10 days’ quarantine at a government-designated quarantine facility in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry responsible for Health.
The COVID-19 numbers in Belize remain relatively high at 1,086 active cases. The Minister of Health and Wellness, Michel Chebat, has insisted, that with the continued number of deaths still occurring and the imminent arrival of the Omicron variant in the country, we need to remain vigilant and the curfew is an important part of the security measures that the Ministry has put in place.
Belizeans at home and abroad have a lot to celebrate today as one of our own has won the coveted title of Miss Earth 2021! Ms. Destiny Wagner hails from the beautiful Stann Creek District in Belize and is the first Belizean woman to win the Miss Earth title. Destiny is the second Belizean to place in one of the Big Four international beauty pageants, Miss Universe, Miss International, Miss World, and Miss Earth – since 1979 when Sarita Diana Acosta placed in the top 12 at Miss Universe.
“My country has never placed at Miss Earth before nor have we ever had an international crown. So right now, this is what we needed and I am happy to represent such a gorgeous country. I am overwhelmed right now with emotions. The words and the gratitude, it’s very hard to express. But I am thankful. I am thankful for the Miss Earth Organization and thankful for my team as well,” Wagner said after winning the pageant.
The 2021 Miss Earth pageant was held virtually due to the COVID pandemic with a total of 88 delegates vying for the title. Other finalists at the pageant which was hosted on Saturday night were Miss Earth-Air, Marisa Butler from the USA; Miss Earth-Water, Romina Denecken from Chile and Miss Earth-Fire, Jareerat Petsom from Thailand.
Congratulation to Ms. Destiny Wagner on this historic win!
Click here to catch all the excitement from Saturday’s finals.
Today marks the official end of the 2021 hurricane season. The season runs from June 1st through to November 30th each year.
This year, the season produced twenty-one (21) named storms having winds of 39 mph or greater including seven (7) hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or greater. Four (4) of these named storms grew into major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or greater. This year was the third most active year on record in terms of named storms, it marks the sixth consecutive above-normal Atlantic hurricane season, and this was the first time on record that two consecutive hurricane seasons exhausted the list of 21 storm names.
This above-average hurricane season was accurately predicted by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service, in their May and August outlooks.
Did you know that the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (BBRRS), which was inscribed as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1996, is comprised of seven protected areas? The seven protected areas of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System are:
The Belize Barrier Reef is a series of coral reefs straddling the coast of Belize, roughly 300 meters (980 ft) offshore in the north and 40 kilometers (25 mi) in the south within the country limits. The Belize Barrier Reef is a 300-kilometer (190 mi) long section of the 900-kilometer (560 mi) Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which is continuous from Cancún on the north-eastern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula through the Riviera Maya and down to Honduras.
It is the largest reef complex in the Atlantic-Caribbean region and represents the second-largest reef system in the world. The seven protected areas that constitute the BBRRS comprise 12% of the entire Reef Complex. The Belize Barrier Reef is Belize’s top tourist destination, popular for scuba diving and snorkeling and attracting almost half of its 260,000 visitors. It is also vital to the country’s fishing industry.
The first Belize Women Cross Country Cycling Classic was held in 1990, and Belizean cycling athlete, Camille Solis, won it in grand style. Though there were only three Belizean female cyclists that answered the call to Belizean cycling mentor and coach Stans Bowman to be a part of the first female Cross Country, Solis’s victory broke the gender barrier in Belize in the male-dominated Holy Saturday Cross Country since 1928.
Camille Solis came straight out of Belize Junior College (Six Form) at St. Johns College at the age of 18 years old to become Belize’s first Woman Cross Country cycling champion. She said that she had always loved to ride and that a bicycle her parents gave her as a means of transport to school was where it all started. So when the cycling scout Bowman saw her ride at the former National Stadium now Marion Jones Sporting Complex, he immediately asked her to participate in his pioneering efforts to make the Belize Women Cross Country a reality.
The athletic and hard-driven Solis began training with some of the most dominant Belizean male cyclists of the 1990s like the Lewis brothers, Charlie and Michael Lewis, as well as cyclist Deon Gentle on the road. But before her cycling career had begun, Solis played softball at the high school level in Belize and had loved the game for its athleticism and competition. If cycling didn’t come along, she would have become an outstanding Belizean softball player. She remarked that she felt like she came out of the womb with a softball mitt in her hands, an admittance that expressed the deep passion she had for sports and the will to compete and win.
Then Camille Solis went on to win 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, and the 1999 Belize Women Cross Country Cycling Classic though there was much competition between her and the other two dynamic Belizean cyclists Hazel Morrison and Leticia Westby that joined the pioneering efforts of Stans Bowman’s call to the first Belize Women Cross Country. There was no race in 1995. She remembered how she responded, that because there were only three of them that were riding the Belize Women Cross Country for the years she won that there was not much of a competition.
“There is a myth that I rode alone and had no challenge, “ said Solis. “Not at all, I always had a challenge from the others like Hazel Morrison who had only ridden two of the Women Cross Country.”
The first Belize Women Cross Country had started at Mile 25 on the former Western Highway now George Price Highway as to give the women a jump ahead of the male Belize Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic. It was 115 miles in all going and coming back from Belize’s Cayo District. And that’s when Solis won the grueling race that was believed to have been only made for Belizean male cyclists since its proud origin in 1928 that saw the legendary Elston Kerr conquer the rough terrain just on a coaster bike. For the first Belizean woman, Camille Solis, to have ridden the acclaimed Belizean cycling classic all the way to Cayo and back in her first race is a remarkable accomplishment for a Belizean female athlete.
But in 1996, the race changed to a one-way course, and the Belize Women Cross Country Cycling Classic started at the Belize Cayo District and finished in Belize City. And since Solis was recovering from a traffic accident in which she was knocked down, she did not defend her title in the 1996 Belize Women Cross Country. After recovery, Solis continued training and became the only Belizean cyclist to be qualified to represent Belize at the 1996 Olympics. Before that, she had also represented Belize in the 1992 Olympics.
These again were historic achievements for Belizean women in sports since before that no Belizean woman had ever qualified to represent Belize in cycling. She also represented Belize in the 1994 Commonwealth Games in cycling. Solis was also the only female cyclist along with four Belizean male cyclists to represent Belize at the 1995 Pan American Games where she placed 16th. in the women cycling road race. However, none of the Belizean male cyclists had finished their races.
The year 1997 found Camille Solis staying out the Belize Women Cross Country Cycling Classic. But in 1998 she rode again and came in second to an American cyclist that had entered the Belize Women Cross Country with Belizean female cyclist, Fiona Humes, placing third. Incredibly in 1999, Camille Solis won the Belize Woman Cross Country again with Fiona Humes placing second. It became the seal to her fascinating cycling career before her temporary but long absence from competing.
At this time, the cadre of Belizean female cyclists to ride the Belize Women Cross Country had been increasing after Solis’s memorable and historic ride and crossing the Belize gender line. Her six Women Cross Country Cycling Classic victories had set the standard that would be followed by many other Belizean female cyclists that were inspired by her accomplishments in the sport.
Solis did not ride the Belize Women Cross Country for seven years since her historic wins in the 1990s as a rising Belizean female cycling legend in the making. During a long departure abroad, her absence was deeply felt in the Belize Women Cross Country from 2000-2007. On her return to Belize Bowman told her it would have taken her three years to prepare herself to return to the competitive form she had after such a long absence.
However, due to family obligations, her comeback attempt was cut short after just two years, after which she decided to permanently retire from competitive cycling. She remembered recalling Bowman’s advice and realized that it takes a lot to prepare and train for the Cross Country.
The exemplary record that the Belizean phenomenal cyclist, Camille Solis, established as a mark of excellence for those aspiring Belizean female cyclists is astonishing. She paved the way for many who came after her to win the Belize Women Cross Country Cycling Classic through her national cycling victories as well as her international cycling competitions representing Belize.
She said that she had found it very inspiring to compete against the internationally recognized Cubans and Americans in world-class cycling at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and Pan American Games across the world. She thanked her first sponsor, Stans Bowman, for seeing the cycling athlete in her as well as her other sponsors, Abel Rodriguez, Belize Dry Cleaners, and Belchi Cycling Club.
As a Massage Therapist today, Camille Solis has contributed back to the sport of cycling by helping Belizean male and female cyclists through her sport medicine skills. She feels that she cannot give back to Belizean cycling what it has given to her of the high level of discipline that molded her and the many places around the world that it has taken her.
Her most rewarding contribution that she is most grateful for to the sport of cycling in Belize is that she has not demanded any recognition for her solid ten years or more of an enduring cycling history only that she is always willing to help any Belizean cyclist in the best way she can. The amazing sense of humility exemplified by this Belizean cycling athlete is the reason why she has become the greatest Belizean female cyclist today.
