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| Reuben Perdomo
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Ambergris Caye has evolved from a sleepy island to a bustling
vacation destination. This is obvious from the recent release of
tourism statistics by the Belize Tourism Board. The growing numbers of
restaurants, hotels, gift shops/boutiques and other businesses must now
have a reliable method for handling their business negotiations. With
several banks on the island, finding one to carry out their
transactions is not hard. This week, The San Pedro Sun is honored to
introduce a man who performs these tasks on a daily basis - Reuben
Perdomo of the San Pedro Branch of the Alliance Bank of Belize
Limited.
On August 21st, 1966, Emily and Rolando Perdomo Sr. (deceased)
welcomed a bouncing baby boy, Reuben, into the world, the second of the
couple's three children. Born in Belize City, Reuben fondly remembered
the "good ol' days" when he used to walk back and forth to St. Ignatius
Primary School with his older brother.
After graduating from St. Ignatius, Reuben attended both St. John's
High School and Junior College. During these years, he also retained
his ties with his old primary school as an active member of the St.
Ignatius Youth Program, where he assisted the school with many
fundraisers and managed their finances, acting as treasurer. He
recalled enjoying basketball, soccer, and being an active participant
in various sports tournaments. In July of 1986, he graduated with an
Associate's Degree in Business Management and received a partial
scholarship to attend St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania.
Reuben then bid his family farewell and was on his way to the USA,
where he spent the next two and a half years. In 1988, he graduated
from the University with a Bachelor's Degree in Finance and
Management. "It was a great experience but it posed its challenges,
especially being away from my family for such a long time. It is an
experience I will never forget," he mentioned.
Upon his return to Belize City, Reuben was first employed as a
credit assistant in the Loan Department at the Bank of Nova Scotia.
Four years later, in 1993, he was promoted to Manager of the Corozal
Branch of the Bank of Nova Scotia. In 1996, he was transferred back to
Belize City as the bank's Commercial Accounts Manager, and became
responsible for handling all of the corporate and business loans.
Looking for a new challenge, Reuben next accepted a position as the
Manager of the San Pedro Branch of the Alliance Bank of Belize Limited.
Reuben joined Alliance in November of 2002, before the island bank
opened its doors for business (on April 7th, 2003). His
responsibilities include the overall day-to-day operations of the
branch - making certain all departments within the bank are running as
smoothly as possible. "It was a challenging endeavor for me but as soon
as I set foot in San Pedro Town, I knew the business opportunities and
the community would make my life here exciting. San Pedro is a booming
piece of paradise," he commented.
In his spare time, Reuben enjoys reading. "I read anything and
everything, from the Bible to magazines and newspapers," he mentioned.
He also keeps abreast of world news and enjoys watching sporting events
on television. Never before having the crystal clear waters of the
Caribbean Sea at his doorstep, Reuben now gets pleasure from snorkeling
and fishing in his free time. "I love being part of this vibrant
community. With controlled development, Ambergris Caye will remain a
paradise for generations to come," he said.
Reuben has always been grateful for that first opportunity he
received at the Bank of Nova Scotia. His ambition to provide the bank
with the best of what he could, led him to the direction his life has
taken. As a Justice of the Peace, he also aims to assist people in
every way he can. "I try to help everyone; no matter their race, status
or religious belief," he ended.
Always willing to be of service and possessing a sincere love for
Ambergris Caye, Reuben Perdomo is indeed a "treasure" in "Our
Community."
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