Belize awash in chocolates and flowers
If you haven’t arranged your gift by the time you’re watching this newscast, then you’re nearly out of time. And if you have to ask “out of time for what?” then you’re really beyond help. Ann-Marie Williams explains.
Ann-Marie Williams
“Valentines Day is February fourteenth. History tells us we all have to be thankful for St. Valentine; he was a Roman martyr priest, associated with a pagan festival. When he died, his feast day was celebrated as Valentine’s Day. It’s a day set aside when lovers take time out to honour each other.”
Although the love affair dates back to the Roman Empire, it’s the increased popularity of that one day of the year, that romances hearts all over the world… and Belize is no exception.
Lovers will be giving and receiving a variety of flowers and gifts. Florist Albert Mendez at the Commercial Centre, says he’s working overtime to satisfy even the most discriminating taste, especially the last minute shoppers.
Albert Mendez, Astar Ltd.
“Well as usual, Belizeans wait until the last minute, so we are taking orders on the phone, but we are trying to get stuff on display so that anybody can walk in and pick up something. We’ve been working for the past two or three nights. It’s a big preparation, people don’t see the preparation, and also what people don’t realise is that at this time of the year we pay more for the flowers. But we still try to maintain more or less the prices we sell them at all year round.”
On the other side of town, Soli Arguelles is preparing for the last minute rush.
Soli Arguelles, Florasol
“For males we’re doing a lot of gift baskets, fruits and maybe the girls have little specialties that they bring for us to wrap, and little things that they want to include. Guys like the element of surprise, so we do a lot of nice gift baskets. For the girls, they like roses, and this year we have a lot of carnations also. People are asking for carnations because the tropical climate allows for carnations to bloom much more. Everything is selling though, we suit every taste.”
And there are a variety of roses and flowers to suit every taste.
Albert Mendez
“For Valentines Day we have the…just like Christmas in Belize, people think that everything must be red. Red is a beautiful colour, but we need some yellows and some other little colours in there to really spark up the bouquets, so they look bright and attractive.”
“A lot of people like roses, especially red roses, but what I try to do, is bring different colour roses, we have red, white, yellow, and a peach coloured one. I find that since I’ve been doing that, a lot of people are taking the different colours.”
Margaret Cadle, Shopper
“I’m looking for a bouquet or something for my mother and my boyfriend.”
And whether you’re looking for something for your boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, husband or mom, if flowers won’t do it for you, this husband and wife team promises to sweeten your disposition.
Laurine Woods, Laurine Chocolates
“I have the wine glasses with the female and the male embracing each other, which is very nice and tasteful, very romantic. Also, the bouquet of chocolate roses in a nice container, so that when they’re finished with the chocolate, they also have something for remembrance, something for keepsake. So it’s a very neat way of giving your loved one something that is cherishable.”
Leroy Woods
“All of our chocolates are in baskets and containers that can be used later. Most of all, the people that buy our product, they can… like we have picture frames, and they have candy in there. They can eat the candy, but always remember the person gave them the picture frame.”
And if you haven’t placed your order yet, don’t lose heart, there’s still time, even if your soul mate lives across the miles.
Soli Arguelles
“Because of the communication in the world today and the Internet service, my e-mails are clogged up, the Internet is clogged up and so it is abroad. I am affiliated with all the international services, so I have been on the fax, on the phone, we work through midnight to make sure that everything is delivered. I as well am sending, and receiving from abroad.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“Are there a lot of Belizeans who call you from overseas to give to their families and friends?”
Soli Arguelles
“Yes. Now with the e-mail, a lot of them are using the e-mails, faxes, calls. But most of it is on a personal basis because they all know me, so they just call and I deliver.”
Ann-Marie Williams for News 5, saying Happy Valentine’s Day.
One aspect of this story that we could not show in this family newscast is the adult section of Laurine Chocolates. Like Playboy or Penthouse, you have to ask to see it.
