Hundreds attend the funeral of Sir Barry Bowen
It was a fitting farewell for a man who touched the lives of many Belizeans and is considered one of Belize’s most distinguished businessmen, Sir Barry Bowen. His many successful business ventures benefitted the country’s economy and he employed well over one thousand persons. His final farewell, an official one, was held today and thousands turned up at the church or lined up the streets to pay their last respects. Barry Bowen died last Friday as his plane crashed in a swampy area of San Pablo at La Isla Bonita where Bowen took up residence for years. The news of his tragic death and that of the Casey family has the nation in mourning. There were several hundred in attendance, including current and former government officials, business executives, family and friends. Marion Ali was at the St. John’s Cathedral and reports on this solemn occasion.
[Funeral procession…]
Marion Ali, Reporting
The procession was led by the official police vehicle and Sir Barry Bowen’s immediate family. The casket, carried by six Belize Defense Force pallbearers, and draped with the Belize flag, arrived at a few minutes to ten this morning at Saint John’s Cathedral to the hymn “The Lord is My Shepherd” played by the Police Band.
In attendance at the packed church for the mass of thanksgiving for the life of this philanthropist and business mogul were high officials, including the Governor General, Sir Colville Young, Prime Minister Dean Barrow and Mrs. Barrow, former Prime Minister Said Musa and Mrs. Musa, other dignitaries and close family friends and affiliates.
Outside there were two tents for other friends, well-wishers and employees of Sir Barry’s many business establishments, while the street in front of the church was lined with more supporters and people who also wanted to pay respects.
In his Remembrance Speech, his good friend, John Searle, shared some of this businessman’s notable accomplishments in this country he lived and loved.
John Searle
John Searle, Sir Barry Bowen’s friend
“In 1965 at the tender age of twenty Barry returned to Belize with a university education, speaking English, Spanish, and French, which he learned from his mother, Emily. To complete the picture, he came back with a wife. He immediately became apprentice in a family business, Bowen and Bowen Ltd. By 1978 he had demonstrated his ability to run the company and he bought out his parents’ shares. Eventually, he also bought out the shares held by to his brother Bruce and sisters Pam and Patty. He was thirty-three years of age and he had become the Chairman of Bowen and Bowen Limited, which now controls Belize Brewing Company, Coca Cola Bottling, Crystal Bottling, Belize Estate Company Limited, Belize Aquaculture Limited, the Riverside Tavern in Belize City, Chan Chich and Gallon Jug farming, coffee, cattle ranching community.”
John Searle’s remembrance was followed by readings done by Sir Barry’s two daughters, Courtney Bowen and Shelley Bowen Stonesifer and after the mass, conducted by chief celebrant, Canon Leroy Flowers, the well-wishers filled the church yard and street to convey words of comfort and condolence.
The procession resumed as the funeral attendants filed into their vehicles destined for San Ignacio for the interment, while a bystander displayed this copy of the obituary for our camera. The death of Sir Barry Bowen will go down in Belize’s history books as a great loss of one of our most accomplished businessmen. Sir Barry Bowen was sixty-four years old. He is survived by his wife, Lady Dixie and six children. Marion Ali for News Five.
Unfathomable! Someone as titanium tough as Sir Barry is gone?!? Glad to have had the opportunity to have worked with him and experienced is meticulousness and his constant quest for high standards. Sir Barry was no mediocre, status quo kind of guy…cool but a man of principles. I certainly have learnt a lot from him. I will always remember his wave almost every evening when he passed the corner of Regent and Treasury Lane. I was always standing at the corner after I’ve covered court proceedings for the day. You never know what Sir Barry took just on one glance. Amazing human being! He will be missed forever.
Agreed, Rhenae. Don’t ask me how, but my mind was on Sir Barry Friday night as I was walking home when a colleague came up to me on the street and said, “Did you hear Barry Bowen dead inna plane crash?”
I was honored to cover the story and even though I am no fan of funerals (they’ll probably just cremate me when I go), I was compelled to go to St. John’s and glad I did.
Now to hear what Civil Aviation says…
Seriously, what did Barry Bowen ever do for Belize? He was a business man who turned a good profit- well good for him. I have NEVER heard that he did a thing for southside Belize, for example or any kind of poverty alleviation project. Yes he employed Belizeans in his businesses but how else could he run a business if not by employees.
Every day our young black men are killed on the streets of Belize City and nothing is seriously being done to address this. Why don’t we have a funeral procession for them?
Think About It:
Everyone has something to contribute in the greater society of Belize, of the world. Mr. Bowen started a company that allowed plenty of Belizeans to put bread on the table for their families. He had a school that provided education for children of agricultural workers in Gallon Jug, there was the Spelling Bee competition that was open to children all over the country, and donated hundreds of computers to schools and families — everyone plays their part.
What will yours be? Maybe you can try opening a center in Southside Belize. Did anyone approach Mr. Bowen with a comprehensive plan for a non-profit in the Southside area?
Maybe he would’ve sponsored the project. I wouldn’t be surprised if the company had sponsored projects in that area. Try finding out… ask around the community.
Bowen & Bowen contributed to so many activities all over the country. I’m sure a few football players from Southside might’ve benefitted from the company somehow with football jerseys, equipment …
Bowen was a businessman. Society is made up doctors, social workers, businessmen, policemen, politicians, etc. We all play our roles. The question is, how do we function together? I think Mr. Bowen worked well in the interdependent system. And that contributed to his success.
Zap him out of the grand scheme of things. Erase all his contributions. Think about the loss.
Look at what the company offered instead of what it didn’t. One person can’t do everything. Learn from him. As Finnegan said in an article, Barry once told him, “Don’t watch me grow. Grow with me.”
p.s. Sports, one of the company’s greatest philanthropic interests is a great deterrent to crime among youth.
As for POVERTY ALLEVIATION:
Employment (providing jobs, opportunities for people to earn an honest income) is the best way to alleviate poverty in any society.
And Education (e.g. providing computers through the spelling bee competitions, establishing two schools) is the best way to provide people the knowledge to get a job (again, education is an integral part of alleviating poverty … )
And Sports — helping those in society including those living in poverty to gain confidence, mental strength, a sense of competition — qualities that foster a good education, as well forming a team player into a valuable asset with any company.
Even political contributions: playing the role of an interest group, influencing policy in government to aid in the success of a business that provides employment to so many, using powerful resources to be a part of the political system — in other words, spinning the wheels in democracy.
You have to look at the big picture.
you is ……..,that the problem with people like you ,just want every thing free, get your ass up and go make a difference,and stop waiting for hand out, bowen & bowen is doing lot for belize,sport/charity/help his employees.they killing each other over bullshit/drugs/crime, gang/y dont you go and try to stop it ,big baby.
are you for real, are you asking that question? what sir barry did for belize? you THINK ABOUT IT before asking such a question…..
RE: THINK ABOUT IT’s Post:
I can’t disagree more. Mr. Bowen gave copious amounts of money to help Belize, whether it was donating to schools or, as Tyadia says, sponsoring sports to no end — and indeed that’s a great deterrent to juvenile delinquency and crime. But even on a micro level, I remember asking for yearbook donations when I attended SJC and he and Mr. Hilly were always welcoming and happy to give. They never asked if I lived on the North or Southside (which I did). When my aunt would ask for soft drink donations for her school (again, on the Southside), they would even send coolers of ice, tents, and guys to help set everything up.
Like Tyadia says, ask around, you may be surprised how many large and small acts of kindness he performed and just never made public.
I would like to think that he and my Dad are partying it up in heaven.
It is very ironic that Mr. Bowen is gone when he did because just last week I told my Brother -in- Law who has been working for Bowen for 30 years that you will take over things when he’s gone. They say it’s not how long you live, but what you did with the life you had. He has made an indelible mark that will not be erased. I am a teacher in California and as we celebrate Black History month every year, I tell the students, “Don’t just READ about history, MAKE history. The ball is in your court, don’t fumble. Don’t criticize. Some people want everything for nothing.
As we say good buy to a dear friend of our country, let us take this time to look all the good he did for our country all the employment and contributions..R.I.P. Sir bowen.
To: THINK ABOUT IT:
First of all, it was not Barry Bowen’s resposibility to alleviate the poverty in Belize. Secondly, about all the young “black” men being killed in Belize not having a funeral procession? Are you serious? A majority of young men being killed in Belize are being killed because of the lifestyle they choose. Why should they be celebrated? People need to stop blaming others for the situations they’re in. Barry Bowen and his family worked for what they have. He did not owe Belize anything. He chose to contribute and did so ENORMOUSLY and if you can’t see that then, maybe you SHOULD have done some research before you commented.
A true LEGEND RIP Sir Barry
first of all i just wanna say: RIP!! to barry bowen he was indeed a very GOOD man. He touched many lives…lol… i didn’t knw that he was a pilot…..i tought…..he was a man that made coke, sprite and fanta but he was a true legend. He has left a great son behind also.
Rose Blancaneaux nice of Emily Bowen would like to send her condolence of the death of Barry Bowen and if thire is any way she could contact Pamila Bowen we can be contacted at blancaneaux@att,net