Santiago Perdomo, also known as San Perdomo, the man who became the first area representative for Cayo South in 1961, passed away on Sunday at the age of 77.
Perdomo, a former Minister of Education and Minister of Natural Resources/Lands, was the eldest brother of Minister of National Security Carlos Perdomo.
Speaking with Amandala tonight, Monday, Minister Perdomo said that his brother reportedly went to hospital Friday evening and they called and said he had passed Sunday, yesterday. Another relative told us he died from internal bleeding associated with an ulcer he had been battling “off and on.”
Minister Perdomo, a member of the ruling United Democratic Party, noted that his brother ran successfully on the ticket of the Opposition People’s United Party for four conservative terms until his retirement from politics in 1979.
“I remember well a lot of civil servants praising him for being able to work along with them,” said Perdomo.
Santiago Perdomo shared his political milestones with Hector Silva, who was the PUP area representative for Cayo North after Cayo was split into two electoral divisions in time for the 1961 elections.
It is written in the historical annals of Sacred Heart College that in 1961, Silva and Perdomo lobbied Wahib Habet, who provided all the materials from the San Luis Sawmill Co. for two wooden buildings for the school.
Perdomo was raised in Belize City but moved to Cayo around the time he married his first wife, Lileth, with whom he had four children: Daniel Santiago, Tiburcio, Lileth, and Victor.
San Perdomo is also survived by two daughters from his second union: Josephine Lopez and Lisa Perdomo, as well as his third wife, his brothers: Jose Baltazar and Carlos Perdomo, and one adopted sister, Cruzita Swasey.
The Perdomo brothers are the children of Tibrucio Perdomo, also known as “Bushin,” who, Minister Perdomo said, used to lead PUP 10th parades with a horse.
Funeral services for the late San Perdomo are scheduled to take place on Wednesday, August 3, 2011, at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Belmopan.
The viewing of the body is planned for 2 o’clock, and the service is planned for 3:00 p.m.
(Note: A photo from relatives was not immediately available in time for the publication of this article.)