Lynam Prison
In 1958 Lynam Agricultural College was moved from Dangriga to Lynam Hill on the Canada Hill Road behind Pomona, it was closed down in 1971. In 1974 the buildings were converted into a prison to house some of Belize’s most notorious criminals. In this time there were several daring escapes. Lynam prison being in the south of the country would mean that most of the prisoners were from north and made their way north upon escape. Their preferred route of travel was up the Old Mullins River Road then hitting the Coastal Road which was no more than a trail or up the coast along the sea. It was not uncommon for prison wardens in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s to warn residents in the valley to be on the lookout for escaped prisoners.
In 1993, the prisoners were relocated to Belize Central Prison in Hattieville. The building was reopened at Agriculture and Natural Resources Institute in 1994 and new school buildings were made at the foot of the hill in 2004. The old prison building has since been abandoned. The road entrance has since been overgrown by thick tiger ferns and the only way to the buildings is through the pasture on the steep side of the hill. This white building was a land mark that could be seen for miles when travelling the Stann Creek Valley Road. Today the jungle is retaking the building and it cannot even be seen from Pomona.
In 1993, the prisoners were relocated to Belize Central Prison in Hattieville. The building was reopened at Agriculture and Natural Resources Institute in 1994 and new school buildings were made at the foot of the hill in 2004. The old prison building has since been abandoned. The road entrance has since been overgrown by thick tiger ferns and the only way to the buildings is through the pasture on the steep side of the hill. This white building was a land mark that could be seen for miles when travelling the Stann Creek Valley Road. Today the jungle is retaking the building and it cannot even be seen from Pomona.
Lynam Pump
This is one of the least known sites of the area and many students were mistakenly told it was the remnants of a train. It was used to pump water up the hill to the school and the prison. It is still complete with wheels and all.
This pump was one of the major reasons why Lynam Agricultural College could function at such a high rate, feeding all its students and animals year round.
Something as simple as a pump was a major contributor to the food security that the school achieved in the 1960’s. The pump was also used to supply the prison with water in the 1970’s instead of collecting water in catchment containers or going downhill for this essential commodity.
This pump was one of the major reasons why Lynam Agricultural College could function at such a high rate, feeding all its students and animals year round.
Something as simple as a pump was a major contributor to the food security that the school achieved in the 1960’s. The pump was also used to supply the prison with water in the 1970’s instead of collecting water in catchment containers or going downhill for this essential commodity.
Canada Hill
There is a hill in Scotland that serves as viewpoint families departing to the new world that has the same name but this hill was named after a Canadian company that owned a cassava starch factory in the area around 1937. The hill is being mined heavily for the white marl it provides towards road and construction building throughout the area.