Photo: Alicia Thompson

The Belize Cycling Federation’s president, Alicia Thompson, and general secretary, Alan Auil, resigned simultaneously from their posts at the federation. Thompson said, “It was too much work.”

by Charles Gladden

BELIZE CITY, Wed. Nov. 15, 2023

Amandala has confirmed from sources within the cycling community that the Belize Cycling Federation’s president and general secretary – Alicia Thompson and Alan Auil – have both resigned from their respective posts within the federation.

Reports to Amandala have indicated that on Monday, November 13, Thompson announced her resignation during a virtual meeting held by the association’s management committee. After the meeting, Auil also announced his resignation from his post within the federation.

Amandala reached out for comment from Thompson, who said, “It was just too much, and I could not handle it.” She continued, “At the elections, we said that we would need volunteers, and we did not get any. I was honored to have served my members, if even for a short time.”

Back in December of last year, Thompson and Auil, along with her new executive board at the time, were elected to serve a four-year term in the Federation. At the elections, Thompson won her presidency over Tarique Cano with a vote count of 77 to 29, while Auil secured his seat over Karen Vernon with 66 to 22 votes.

Amandala reached out to Cano for comment on Thompson’s resignation from the federation and he told us that it was expected.

“They put a slate together last minute … they were placed in a position in which they had no idea what they were doing or how to do it, and they realized that they don’t have the cycling political ‘know-how’ and it showed,” he said.

With Thompson surrendering her presidency, the vacant position will be filled by Glen Flowers, who had been elected to serve as the vice-president, and filling his position will be Michael Arthur.