Broadcasting pioneer, Rudy Castillo, passes away

Early this morning, a pioneer in broadcasting with tremendous experience in the public service, Rudolph Castillo, passed away in Belmopan. Castillo did not recover from a coma he slipped in about a month ago following surgery for injuries he suffered in a fall. Castillo was among top broadcasters in the early days of Radio Belize along with others such as Everal Waight and Seferino Coleman, both who predeceased him. He spent forty years in the public service and held such posts as Chief Broadcasting Officer, Chief Information Officer, Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Secretary and Chief of Protocol. He was also named the first High Commissioner to the United Kingdom as well as to Canada. He was widely regarded as a close confidant of the father of the nation, George Price, and years ago he penned a book on that relationship entitled “The George Price I Knew.” He also authored a second publication on the historical development of the credit union movement. The government has announced that an official funeral will be held this coming Monday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-cathedral in Belmopan. He is survived by his wife Gwendolyn and seven children. Rudy Castillo, dead at eighty three.