Santa’s elves? Inmates make Xmas crafts
In her continuing quest for good locally made gifts for Christmas, News 5’s Ann-Marie Williams today paid a visit to a busy workshop some sixteen miles west of Belize City.
Ann-Marie Williams
Male inmates at the Hattieville Prison were busy this morning putting the finishing touches on their Christmas crafts. Officer Daniel Young, the workshop instructor, says the inmates operate a gift shop at the prison, and around this time of year, they’re busy taking order for gifts.
Daniel Young
“It’s one hundred percent genuine stuff, because it’s out of the raw-based materials we take it from that stage and put it into a finished product. I think that’s one of the thinks that that foreigners come here most of the time to buy the stuff.”
There’s a wide array of Belizean-made wooden items to be purchased, including jewelry boxes, boats, picture frames, mirrors and even souvenirs. We found inmate Marlon Baptist working on an order for jewelry boxes.
Marlon Baptist, Inmate
“We put in the wood first, after that you level it to one standard size and cut it at a forty-five degree angle, and set it up. Just cut it to the size you want the box and set it up.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“You find a lot of the jewelry boxes sell? Do you get orders for them?”
Marlon Baptist
“Yeah. It’s good business, like how you order two, which is very nice. The box is made of zericote and rosewood, which makes it appears as it’s made of mahogany. It’s worthwhile for a Christmas gift.”
Curnel Ferguson learnt the trade at his father’s knees. This morning he was framing a mirror.
Curnel Ferguson, Inmate
“A good Christmas gift. These are something nice too, because a lot of people like to see it. As Mr. Ferguson come and see it, he said he want it. he said why I can’t make one for somebody else and give him this one.”
Young invites Belizeans and tourists alike to browse the gift shop for the season.
Daniel Young
“They could come at the prison gift shop and they can view what they see. And if they have anything they would want made, they can place and order, we can get it for them.”
Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
The inmates at Hattieville also make kitchen cabinets and–don’t laugh–burglar bars. If you’d like to place an order you can do so by contacting Ms. Pott at 025-6218.
