Boxing was therapy at old city prison

It’s only been a decade, but sometimes ten years can seem like a lifetime. In January of 1992, the name Hattieville was synonymous with a hurricane, not a prison, and those Belizeans who resided behind bars did so on an appropriately named street called Gaol Lane. In those days, as reported by a rookie journalist named William Neal, when prisoners fought, it was with boxing gloves.

William Neal, Reporting

These boxers all dream of becoming champions in their divisions, and many of them are as the result of the first Belize Games. However, there is one major difference between these men and boxers from other gyms. These fighters are serving sentences in Her Majesty’s Prison.

The promoter of this experimental boxing programme is the Superintendent of the prison, Mr. Bernard Adolphus. The Adolphus Gym is his idea of a positive step towards rehabilitation.

Bernard Adolphus, Superintendent

“I believe that by doing such a programme it would assist them to discipline themselves and control the physical being and have an outlet in which to burn up all that excess energy, which most of them have within this institution.”

Prior to their acceptance into the programme, the twenty-two boxers are screened in several areas, including: crime committed, time being served, behavioural patterns, reaction to supervision, boxing performance and team spirit.

Silver medallist Gilbert Humphreys has been with the gym since its birth in ’89.

Gilbert Humphreys

“Well with the boxing training and thing, I feel like a physical person, a more healthy person. I learn to keep away from drugs because I used to be a person who smoked marijuana and different things, so it teach me to keep away from drugs and be a more healthy person in life. I want get out this place and progress in life.”

One of the people trying to help these men progress positively both during and after their release, is Mrs. Henrietta Gill. She is trainer for both the Adolphus and Civic gyms.

Henrietta Gill

“What keep me, is the boys in here, because when I look at them, it could have been my son. This is what keeping me, and the motto in here is to go forward and look for a better life.”

Not only do these men face mental and physical barriers; they are pushed against the ropes by critics of the programme. Adolphus defends his boxers and the Adolphus Gym.

Bernard Adolphus

“People will say that prisoners should not be in the street, should not participate in boxing or sporting activities. But, they don’t understand that the treatment of a defender is a different process. We have to remember too that no individual is sent to prison for punishment, they are only sent as punishment.”

Through this unique form of rehabilitation, Mrs. Gill says she has seen a growth in hope and confidence among the boxers. Mr. Adolphus noted that the programme had unexpected results.

Bernard Adolphus

“For two years, a prisoner, a member of the boxing team, and his mother was not on talking terms because of the fact that he had a drug problem. Unknown to him, his mother visited both of his fights. On the last fight, for us it was sort of emotional because the fact is that they hadn’t spoken for two years and he said to us that I have one more fight to win, and that was to get closer to his mother and apologise to his mother for his behaviour, which he did on the outside.”

For many of these boxers, the final bell has not yet rung, as the real fight will begin on their release. With luck and determination, they will survive the early knockdowns and uppercuts life throws.

Gilbert Humphreys

“With this boxing, I want to continue it. I will go to the Civic Gym, where Mrs. Gill is, who is our trainer in here too, and try to pull off myself for the next Olympic game. I’d want to become a Belize champ.”

We are not sure whether Gilbert Humphreys succeeded in his goal, but if he didn’t, it wasn’t for lack of trying. As for others featured in that 1992 story, Prison Superintendent Bernard Adolphus has recently retired, while long-time prison officer and rehabilitation volunteer Henrietta Gill today left Belize for Los Angeles, where she will receive medical attention. Before departing, Gill asked us to pass along a message to the young generation that she knows so well. “Please,” she pleaded “Please, put down the gun.”