Dr. Erasmo Franklin
Director
Dr. Erasmo Franklin is a trained teacher who received his credentials at the Belize Teachers College with endorsement from the University of the West Indies and additional training from SJCJC on the teaching of English as a second language, Belizean History and the teaching of Science. He worked in the educational field with the government of Belize for several years. That service included teaching in several primary schools in the northern districts and later work as an instructor at Muffles High School for four years.
Posterior to his initial teaching activities, Erasmo sought educational improvement and succeeded in traveling abroad to obtain a baccalaureate degree. He graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri (UMC) three years later, where he was awarded a BSc in Education (the teaching of Science, K to 12). His passion was for the sciences so he applied for admittance in the UMC School of Agriculture, Department of Entomology where he was awarded research assistantships which facilitated his scholarly work (published in reputable scientific journals) and resulting in his obtaining two graduate degrees—MSc and PhD in Entomology with a specialization in Toxicology of Insecticides and minor specialization in Animal Nutrition. He then proceeded to the USDA Labs in Athens, Georgia (for a one-month period) then to the University of Miami, Florida (three months) relevant to additional training in residue analysis, given that his graduate program at the University of Missouri included intensive course work in analytical biochemistry.
Dr. Franklin returned to Belize in 1984 and worked on a contractual basis for the government of Belize as their analytical biochemist for a period of 3.5 years. During that employment period he became very active in the safe pesticide use sphere and was a key figure in pioneering the Pesticides Control Act and formation of the Pesticides Control Board. He was nominated the first president of the board and has been a board member ever since. Subsequent to his employment stint with the government of Belize Agriculture Department he worked for James Brodie & Co. Ltd. as manager, Agrochemical Division and has worked there to this day.
- Briefly after his return to Belize, Erasmo’s brother Scout and former Scout Master, Ramiro Duran, recruited him to join the training team and administration cadre in the Belize Scouting family. Activities and responsibilities included the following:
Wood Badge training
Training and certification in Administration
Finance Commissioner
Chief Commissioner
President
Chief Scout
President of the National Court of Honour (still serves in that capacity)
Several periods of service as Interim Chief Scout
While Dr. Franklin served as Chief Commissioner he recruited the late Richard Harrison into the Finance Committee and along with him conceived of the formation of the Belize Scout Endowment Trust Foundation. Together with other members of the Committee and Association, the concept was developed into a reality.
Dr Franklin is a long-standing member of the Belize Choral Society and has also served as the president of the Belize Blood Donor Society. He is now pioneering the formation of the Belize Association of Pesticide Importers. This association hopes to educate the agricultural community in regard to the rational use of pesticides; promote integrated pest management and thus enhance the concept of wholesome food security and production in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner.