Email

Print

7News was there when the different speakers reflected on the life and accomplishments of the man called "Jawmeighan". Here's a few snippets of what they had to say:

Fitzgerald "Palas" Joseph - Fellow Rider
"I want to believe that the cycling races are in heaven now and hope has gone. Elbert Hope has gone, Ellis, Dangalang Thurton - all Santino's riders. Now I believe that the Belizean riders are waiting in heaven by the former riders. And Dangalang who loves and adores Jawmeighan may have spoken to the Lord and asked the Lord to please take Jawmeighan to heaven because we cannot breed these guys."

Kwame Scott - Cycling Race Promoter
"Of course we all know the golden bwoy, yes heard "baawee," we heard "bridget," but let me touch two that weren't so common. One was "flavor" and that was because in the peak of his career he use to ride with perfume or cologne soaked handkerchief inside his back pocket. Did you know that Santi? And also most recently he used to purchase African oils from myself and whenever I was out of oils he would scolded me, he said you need to get some more because those are the things that makes me smell like a champion should smell."

Andrew Ordonez - Mentored JawMeighan
"Jawmeighan use to come but before each major race to eat Miss Debbie special made lasagna and a huge veggie salad."

Hon. Patrick Faber - Minister of Education & Sports
"On behalf of the government and people of Belize to place on record our gratitude for the life of Ernest Jawmeighan Meighan . He has been an icon in the sporting world, I am sure that you will all agree. I thank the family for having loan his to us as a nation, in service to this nation and we hope that his spirit will live on and that other young people can see him as a role model."

Dion Leslie - President, Cycling Federation of Belize
"We lost what Belize had the closest to a superstar and that was Jawmeighan. He was all LeBron James, he was all Michael Jordan and we've been getting condolences from around the globe from those he has competed with internationally from the US, Mexico, Guatemala - they've all called, email us expressing their sincere condolences."

Hon. Santiago Castillo Jr. - Friend and Mentor To JawMeighan
"Like all previous speakers if I was to give a reflection on Jawmeighan we wouldn't bury him until around Sunday. So intead I am going to read a poem I wrote for him on Wednesday night which is behind the brochure; once a day and sometimes more, you knocked upon my door, and I say come on in jaw, I am glad you are here with me my friend. Then we sit and have a usual chat, recalling this, discussing that. Then I realize it's just a dream, sometimes life can be so mean. There are worldwide landscapes we like, while we travelled all over and peddled our bike, so many international friends we met from, from Guate, Nicaragua, USA, to Chet. And after a few years, your reputation was known, you had made your mark, it was written in stone. So now in death they send their goodbye, many of them not afraid to cry. While here in Belize, the country is mad, we lost a hero, a champ. It's so sad. But God has better plans for you Ellis, Ariel and Danga, di wait for you too. So goodbye my friend, my brother, my son while you were here, it was the greatest fun."