Stamp collecting interest still there

Interest is still being shown locally in stamp collecting.

However, as shared by Postal Superintendent (Acting) with the Postman’s Branch, General Post Office, Gerry Brathwaite, this interest has declined over the years.

“It has decreased over the years, but you still have stamp enthusiasts. We are philatelic bureau, so you still have a lot interest as far as stamp collection is concerned. Reasons for that is because five, 10 [or] 20 years from now and you have stamps, you might pay 10 cents for it now, but in 10, 20 years, that 10 cents could come to $100 for that same stamp you would have paid 10 cents for.

“That is why people do stamp collecting. Or it might be a stamp that nobody else had, and someone may call you and give you $5 or $1000 for your stamp, so it is still lucrative.”

Brathwaite spoke to press on the side-lines of Monday’s tour of the General Post Office by 30 campers from the Vauxhall Primary School Camp. Following a short lecture, during which facts about the Post Office and the services offered were shared, in pairs the youngsters visited the Postman’s Branch, the Sorting Office, the Main Counter and the Parcel Post.

This tour was organised for the campers by the Christ Church Parish Ambassadors and the Christ Church Parish Independence Committee, as part of their parish project, which carries the theme, ‘Connecting Every Corner and Crevice’. On hand for the tour were 2016 Christ Church Parish Ambassadors, Andrew Ashby and Simone Daniel, as well as Chairperson, Andrea Marshall.

Daniel told The Barbados Advocate that the tour was organised to educate the youngsters about the postal service and the daily role performed by post men and women. She also said it was conducted to increase awareness about professions within the postal service.

Ashby added that through the tour, they sought to increase awareness about the newer services offered at the post office.

He also pointed out that though the Vauxhall Primary School Camp was the first to take the tour, the ambassadors have conducted sessions with camps at the Christ Church Girls School, Milton Lynch Primary School, St. Bartholomew Primary School and St. Christopher Primary School.