A renowned businessman of the shipping and tourism industries in Belize, Mr. Mike Williams, died in Miami on Tuesday, January 6th at age 76.

Michael William Oswald Williams, was a pioneer of the shipping industry in Belize and worked for many years as the General Manager of the United Fruit Company’s shipping department.

He later built and managed his own shipping agency, Euro Caribe Lines.

Mike, as he is popularly known, battled lung cancer since 2007, when it was first diagnosed.

The family has announced that his body will be cremated in Florida and his ashes flown to Belize to be scattered over the English Channel at the conclusion of a memorial service, which will be held in his memory at 10:00 on the morning of Saturday, January 17th at the Holy Redeemer Cathedral.

After the memorial mass, friends and family will assemble at the Eurocaribe Office, and board boats that will head out to the English Channel where the ashes will be scattered in a half mile radius. Mourners will then return to the Eurocaribe Office where light snacks will be served.

Mike Williams is the father of two children, Michelle and Michael Jr.

In 1977, when United Fruit Company packed up its operation in Belize, Williams bought the properties and began his own shipping agency, which he named EuroCaribe.

Williams started the company as a basic cargo shipping line and it grew to become a representative for cargo and cruise lines worldwide.

Eurocaribe oversees shipping from Houston, Texas, cities in the gulf of Mexico to Belize and places beyond. The agency has also branched out into the tourism industry and is now the agent for nearly all the cruiseships that come to Belize, including Regent Seven Seas, Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Lines, Sea Clouds Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Seabourn Lines and Crystal Cruises.

Williams formed two other supporting companies for Eurocaribe, which are Maritime Estates and Tour Belize.

Entrepreneural by nature, Mike Williams involved himself in various businesses besides shipping and tourism. He founded the Michael Collin Gallery, Maritime Estates and the Harbour View Restaurant in the Fort George Area, which he passed on to his daughter, Michelle.

Belize has benefitted from his entrepreunal spirit. Sixty Belizeans are gainfully employed full-time by his companies, and many others are casual workers.

Mike Williams was also active in the community. He was past President of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and of the Rotary Club of Belize City.

He was a founding member of the Belize Port Authority and an official of the Belize Library Board.

He loved Belize very much and did everything he could to assist in it’s development.

He is survived by his wife Martha, his two children Michelle and Michael, his extended family of his wife’s relatives, workers and friends.

RIP