Eduardo Brown Sr., 1986
One of the original tour guides at Paradise Resort Hotel.
by Angel Nunez
Edwardo Brown Sr is Mexican by birth and was living in our neighboring village of X’Kalak when in 1955 Hurricane Janet hit Southern Mexico and Northern Belize which encompassed San Pedro and Corozal. In this hurricane all of Edwardo’s parents were killed when their house collapsed on them. Fortunately or better said miraculously, Edwardo was saved by a friend, Mr. Andrew Bradley who passed away recently. Edward was brought to San Pedro and raised by Andrew along with a few relatives of his.
As soon as he completed his elementary school, Edwardo found a fishing boat captain and went to sea to learn the intricacies of skin diving for lobster, conch and spear fishing. Seems like he was born for the sea and in a few years, Edwardo owned his own boat and recruited his favorite crew for his fishing expeditions to Turnefe, Glover’s Reef, Half Moon Caye and all the pristine cayes of Southern Belize. This was during the birth and founding of Caribena Fishing Coopeative.
In the mid 60’s he married Lupita Nunez, a relationship that produced Virginia, Elida, Dulce, Regina, Ramon, and Edwardo Brown Jr.
When the Tourism Industry commenced, Edwardo joined the tourism staff at Paradise Hotel, the second hotel in San Pedro to follow the renowned Holiday Hotel. He climbed the ranks in that industry being a tour guide, tour operator, dive shop operator, master diver and Master Diving Instructor. Alongside Ramon Nunez, Adolfo Ayuso, they elevated all the sea activities and operations at Paradise Hotel. After many years of commitment and dedication to the industry, Edwardo finally decided to retire and venture into private engagement still in tourism and the sea this time around more like a consultant. Today Toto is engaged in the management of private property, namely a few offshore cayes in Southern Belize.
Edwardo “Toto” Brown has been a successful natural Mayan boy who without formal education, fought himself up in life and established a fine family whom I am proud to call “my family”. His ROOTS are firmly anchored in San Pedro and we are honored to consider him “Un Orgullo San Pedrano”.
Top photograph by Melissa Fellure, the others courtesy Angel Nunez
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