start my 'second act' with a dive shop

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Member since 06 October 2019

RJR_TOMember18 October 2019 18:41:03

Hello Everyone!

A couple of years ago, I was on an environmental expedition to Belize and instantly knew I wanted to live here. Early retirement is my goal and after reading through all the material, I'm now looking for the best place to rent and spend time understanding the country. Ideally I would like to be in Caye Caulker or Hopkins-when I was there 2 years ago, the road was being built through Hopkins and it was one of the most pleasant places we stayed. My timeline is the next 2 years.

My ideal would be to start my 'second act' with a dive shop or using my backgrounds in government relations and community building. In addition, would anyone have any suggestions or background on the school system? I have a young son and I need to also plan for his future. Some folks have suggested school offshore in Florida but he's too young right now.

My last question is how integrated is the Mennonite community in the economy? There are a great number of Canadian Mennonites in Belize farming and I'm greatly interested in how much involvement they have in agricultural production.

I'm Canadian

'Looking forward to all the great insite!

karenjoe Serial expat

Member since 26 May 2014

karenjoeSerial expat19 October 2019 04:12:47

384

Hello and welcome to the forum!
As for starting a business in Belize, you will need to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations of the country regarding this endeavor- it will not be a simple task; however, if you create a business and hire Belizeans it shouldn't be too difficult. You will still need to obtain a work permit, which will require a lot of documentation and several trips to government offices. There are a multitude of dive operations in Belize, so I am not sure how you will distinguish yourself, but there is always room for more.
I would look for somewhere to rent in the Hopkins area - probably cheaper and easier to find than on Caye Caulker, but you never know. And btw, the road into Hopkins is finished and so much better than before.
I can't help you with the school situation.
The Mennonites are very heavily invested in the country, and you will find Mennonite communities in many areas. They are responsible for a huge amount of the agriculture in Belize, as well as house building. Spanish Lookout has the highest concentration of Mennonites, and they range from traditional "Amish" to 'modernized'.
Good luck in your ventures!

Priscilla ViP

Member since 30 May 2013

PriscillaViP19 October 2019 15:20:50

42358

Hi RJR_TO,

I have created a new thread in the Belize forum for more visibility and interaction.

Thanks,

Priscilla
Expat.com team

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