San Pedro’s very own Ms. Celi Nuñez McCorkle has been bestowed with Her Majesty the Queen’s Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE). A press release from the Office of the Governor General in Belmopan made the announcement this week on the occasion of the New Year Honors 2009.
Ms. McCorkle was awarded with the MBE Honor for her services to the community of San Pedro and commerce. Celi and Holiday Hotel are synonymous, but there is more to Celi. As a lovely young lady just graduated from St. Catherine Academy, Celi could not get a decent job in San Pedro. She could work in Belize City or go to the US like many young people were doing. Fortunately she got married to a young handsome pilot, John Greif, and started the first hotel for San Pedro. That was followed by the opening of the airstrip and dive shops, and the tour guiding business.
Celi touched a lot of lives and opened the doors for the development of tourism. Additionally she contributed much to the tourism industry through her efforts in BTB, BTIA, the Hotel Association as the Caribbean Hotel Association. She was not only a pioneer, but a stalwart and pillar in tourism. On the side line Celi served as Chairlady of the new San Pedro High School and contributed time, patience, money and efforts towards education, something all Sanpedranos are grateful for up to this day.
This still very lovely woman, conscientious person, motivated business person, and very caring mother and friend has more credits to her name that it would take a book to do her justice. Today we simply want to offer our respect and acknowledge the wealth of contributions of Celi by considering her the Pride of San Pedro or UN ORGULLO SANPEDRANO.
Other Belizeans honored by Her Majesty the Queen include:
* To be Ordinary Commander of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) CBE – Mr. Rodwell Roosevelt Adlai Williams, for public and community service. (To be Ordinary Commander of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire)
* To be an Ordinary Officer of the Civi Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) – Mrs. Floridalba Carmelita Contreras, for services to education and the community.
* To be an Ordinary Member of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) – Ms. June Amelia Heusner JP(S) for public and community service.
