Wilmot Simmons – A Belizean Stalwart gone too soon

By Hugh O’Brien: Wilmot Simmons, a Belizean stalwart and long standing employee of Prosser Fertilizer and Agrotec Company Limited, died earlier today.

“Mot” as he was called by his close friends and family, grew up in the Morathon area of San Ignacio but lived in Belize City for most of his adult life. He attended Saint Andrews Primary School then moved on to Sacred Heart College and graduated in 1980. In the San Ignacio and Santa Elena circles, he was well known for his jovial character and his skills as a football player.

After completing high school, Wilmot went on to major in biology and chemistry at Belize Technical College Sixth form from where he graduated in 1982. He then went on to complete a Bachelors degree in Agriculture at the prestigious University of Florida, Gainesville.

Wilmot’s first major employment was at the Soils and Tissue Laboratory in Central Farm where he mastered the art of collecting and analyzing soil and leaf samples as well as conduct chemical analysis on animal feed produced by the feed mills countrywide. Workers in Central Farm have fond memories of Wilmot as he was a jovial character and would treat them from time to time with a bit of distilled alcohol that he would dilute and tease them with. He was also an active football player in the inter-departmental competitions that were hosted annually in Central Farm and the first division competitions in San Ignacio.

Wilmot was my friend and I had the pleasure of having him as my supervisor/boss for the year that I worked at the Soils and Tissue Laboratory in Central Farm, and playing football alongside him with the Central Farm team.

Due to the training in agriculture and the experience Wilmot gained at the lab in Central Farm, he was hired in 1988 by Prosser Fertilizer and Agrotec Company Limited where he worked until his death.

Wilmot was a footballer, a cyclist, a sports fanatic, a true agriculturalist. He was passionate about politics and about Belize.

Wilmot was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, after recovering from a bout with COVID-19, and he lost that battle today.

Despite being ill, and knowing that it was near terminal, his cousin John Mencias noted “it’s amazing that he could still maintain an intense upbeat spirit”.

Rest in Peace Wilmot…until we meet again.

Breaking Belize News (BBN) extends condolences to Wilmot’s family and friends and joins hands in mourning his passing.

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