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And that's why their Christmas-time homecoming has been terribly bittersweet for their family in Corozal. Monica Bodden visited with Curlin Thompson's wife today:..

Monica Bodden Reporting
On Friday -Security guards Curling Thompson and Martin Miller - were handed over to the Corozal Police by the Mexican Authorities.

It had been a long wait for their family and the entire country - to be exact : 2 years, 5 months.

And so when that day finally arrived - it was almost too hard to believe.

Samira Jones - Wife of Curlin Thompson
"Just a week ago that I heard that he is coming back on the 17th, 9:30 he arrive at the Corozal police station."

After spending 2 and a half years in a Mexican Jail - the two men are still not free.

In fact in 3 weeks time; they will be filing for parole.

What happens next is still uncertain.

After spending one hour with her husband - Curlin Thompson was taken away to the Hattieville Prison.

Samira Jones - Wife of Curlin Thompson
"It was good but at the same time disappointing because in a little while they told us that he was going to over to Hattieville prison when we thought that he would be free because he has punished enough over in Chetumal, along with us, we punish a lot also. Like what I said that I have children going to high school and that isn't easy with everything. All the bills, I have to support him whatsoever."

Monica Bodden
"How long did you spend with him?"

Samira Jones - Wife of Curlin Thompson
"About an hour, me and his other family members, mother, sister etc."

Monica Bodden
"Before they took him?"

Samira Jones - Wife of Curlin Thompson
"Yes."

Today Jones invited us inside her home as she walked us through the most difficult 2 years of her life.

Samira Jones - Wife of Curlin Thompson
"The struggling is so difficult everyday with the children , with going forth and coming from Chetumal and everything."

Monica Bodden
"Did you ever imagine something like this would have ever happen to your husband?"

Samira Jones - Wife of Curlin Thompson
"Never and I don't wish it happen to anyone because it's terrible."

Monica Bodden
"How hard was it for you guys to adjust that knowing he is lock up over that side?"

Samira Jones - Wife of Curlin Thompson
"I don't think we ever adjust but we just have to work with the situation."

That situation meant becoming - a single parent. Jones told us - at the time when her husband was incarcerated - their oldest son was in 4th form and the youngest was just beginning high school.

She wasn't working at the time and had just taken an operation. But despite her many obstacles, she did manage to overcome somehow.

Monica Bodden
"Where do you find the strength for the past two and a half years?"

Samira Jones - Wife of Curlin Thompson
"Looking at my children everyday knowing that I have to be there for them, looking after them, finding everything for husband, for my children for them to continue their education because at first start some people think that I would take them out of school but I said no they have to have an education. My oldest son works now, he works and he is paying his 6th form tuition, he have to work and he have to go to school. The younger one, well he is young so he is with me."

Monica Bodden
"He is in high school?"

Samira Jones - Wife of Curlin Thompson
"He is in 3rd form. He started high school when his dad went to prison, now he is in 3rd form."

Monica Bodden
"How hard has it been for them?"

Samira Jones - Wife of Curlin Thompson
"I think it's very hard, just that they don't manifest it in the same way I do, probably I would sit down and cry, probably I would get miserably but for them sometimes they get rebellious dealing with other people and things like that, that's they way they manifest their feelings."

Now her oldest son is attending the Belize Adventist Junior College - while the youngest is in 3rd form.

Reminiscing on some of those special occasions her husband didn't had a chance to be apart - Jones could not fight back the tears from falling.

As you can see in this picture - her husband was the only one missing from their son's high school graduation.

Samira Jones - Wife of Curlin Thompson
"Like what I said that I have 2 children and one graduated last year and it was hard that his father wasn't here with us."

Monica Bodden
"What's the most painful part?"

Samira Jones - Wife of Curlin Thompson
"The most painful part is that he is never with us in special occasions, my son graduation, birthdays and whatsoever."

Monica Bodden
"You want him home for Christmas?"

Samira Jones - Wife of Curlin Thompson
"Well I thought he would be home for Christmas."

The men's transfer from a Mexican jail to the Hattieville Prison was signed in August of this year.

Samira Jones - Wife of Curlin Thompson
"I thought that when they brought him over, I was so happy because the transfer was signed from August, until now they bring him and I thought that he could be home and for him he is having a hard time because they are treating them like normal prisoners, I really expect him to be coming home."

According to Jones, a conference was held with the men in Mexico before they returned.

Samira Jones - Wife of Curlin Thompson
"The last day they had a conference with the people that sign the transfer and they say that whatever Belize does they have nothing to do, that's what my husband told me - if Belize hold them or if Belize let them out the same day, they had nothing to say about it because it's their land and they can do whatever they want."

Jones and her entire family are appealing to Government to help them get their loved one home as soon as possible.

Samira Jones - Wife of Curlin Thompson
"I am appealing to the country, the government that can help to do something for them so that possibly they could come out before Christmas or very quickly, that's what I am appealing for. Whosoever have someone in prison, they know how it is, it's a rough time and my husband - he isn't someone that was there drinking or doing something, he was working for the daily bread for his children."

There will be a family day at the Kolbe Central Prison on Boxing day and the family will be attending to spend time with their loved one. They plan to apply for parole in three weeks …