First Police station in San Pedro, 1975 and 1982
Back in 1975 this was the first police station/Post office on the island and it had only one cell with no lock. I believe it was built in 1910. The smaller structure closest to the beach was the jail, which tells how little to none crime there was.
If you wanted your mail ( delivered once a week ) and Valentine Smith wasn't taking his siesta he would sort through the handful of mail to select yours. He was the only officer on the island, however he was quite effective. There was very little to no crime and only a few tourist if any back then, you never had to lock you door or worry about being robbed. In Fact all Smitty had to do was sit on his veranda and watch the coming and going of any strangers through the village. And if something did happen, he made it quite clear you don't want him to come and fine you. So many would be criminals would end up turning themselves in be fore sunset. Back then there were only three flights a day and one phone line with fourteen extensions to the island. The one phone line was like an old party line, and there was a phone booth at Enrique Staines Sr. house next to were Elvi's Kitchen is today. It was like a tin can and a long string, everything went through a operator at a switch board in Belize City.
It rang in the Staines house and was forwarded to whomever on so many rings. It was a great time no TV no nada, we didn't get TV until the early eighties.
Beautiful beaches, Elvies hamburger stand, opened 4 p.m. Ambergris hotel, Lily^s, Captain Morgan's, and so much more. Different days, good times. There was an elementary school close to the station. Up to standard 3 and a public vat behind it because every one had a well.
Sharon Pandy:
My family lived there for a while as my uncle Officer Hope was the officer there.
George Myvett:
I memba this...Inspector Orillo was in charge when we/Fisheries used to stop in for a chat!
Top photograph by Iguana Jack in 1975, second photo by Mike Beadle, 1982
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