Post office issues Christmas stamps
With the common use of the internet and email, a whole generation of Belizeans has perhaps grown up without the experience of dropping a letter in the post box and hoping for a rapid reply. Today, with the release of a new issue, the post office reminds the public that there’s more to stamps than the taste of glue.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
The 2003 Christmas stamp issue depicts the colourful Scarlet Macaw. Supervisor of the Philatelic Bureau, Emelia Cayetano, says the stamp advisory committee settled on the bird for more than just its plumage.
Emelia Cayetano, Supervisor, Philatelic Bureau
“The Scarlet Macaw is a scarce bird or parrot. It can only be found in Central and South America, and also it is a very beautiful and colourful, attractive bird. And in Belize we are trying to protect it because what happens is that because of the beauty of it, people tend to try to capture it as a pet. And so there is a very limited number of these birds in the country.”
Cayetano says the post office tries to make the stamp issues attractive and relevant for everyone, especially students.
Emelia Cayetano
“I’m appealing to the schools to encourage the children to become active stamp collectors. It’s a very good hobby. It’s a very educational hobby, especially for social studies. You will find we have a lot of themes, which cover different subjects for social studies.”
The Christmas stamp set, like previous issues, comes with face values ranging from twenty-five cents to five dollars. And while most people use them simply as a means of getting their letters from point A to point B, Cayetano says Belizeans should get into the hobby of stamp collection.
Emelia Cayetano
“I want to encourage people outside our customers, friends, relatives, to buy instead of buying Christmas Cards. You know, when you buy Christmas Cards, after Christmas is gone the cards are thrown away. However, if you buy the stamps, you will find that the stamps are valuable and the older the stamps, the more valuable they become. So you will find that your money will not be thrown away. The stamps will be put away for better use and our children, our grand children, our great grand children will be able to use these stamps as they become more valuable as they get older.”
The stamps, including a first day cover, are available at post offices countrywide. Patrick Jones, for News 5.
Cayetano says that the Christmas issue, as well as other stamps, are on display at the Philatelic Bureau on Queen Street. Apart from being available for sale locally, Belizean stamps are also available internationally from selected agents.
