Commentary: Garifunas in Belize getting ready for November 19 celebrations
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| Published on Thursday, October 30, 2008 |
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By Wellington C. Ramos
This year in our country of Belize, the Garifuna people are getting ready to celebrate their 176th anniversary since they left Honduras and migrated to Belize. It is also a time when Garinagus get to meet other Garifuna relatives, brothers and sisters that they have not seen for many years.
The Garifuna people have lived in Belize for all these years in peace and tranquility in Belize compared to their relatives who live in the neighboring republics of Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala. In addition, our people have contributed significantly to the development of Belize in many areas such as education, sports, arts, crafts, culture, music, national security, agriculture, government, etc.
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| Born in Dangriga Town, the cultural capital of Belize, Wellington Ramos has an M.A. in Urban Studies from Long Island University |
In Belize, a Garifuna politician by the name of Theodore Aranda, in 1983 even came close to becoming our country’s first black prime minister despite the fact that they only numbered about 2 percent of our country’s population.
There are many Garifunas in Belize who still think that they can accomplish more things and I agree with them but the doors are opened wide enough for them to go through it. If we have any doubts about this, let us look at the problems our relatives have had in Honduras why they decided to flee to Belize in large numbers one hundred and eighty-five years ago.
Today, in Honduras, we have received reports that the Honduran government is still trying to drive them away from the beachfront properties where they have been living for years. These lands are then sold to foreigners who want to build huge hotels and resorts. Despite their resistance, the Honduran government continues to exercise their right of eminent domain over the Garifuna’s properties.
On March 11, 1797, when the King of the Garifunas Chatoyer was killed by the British, his people were assembled and placed on the island of Baliceaux and then subsequently deported to Roatan, Honduras, where they landed on April 12 of that same year. After discovering that Roatan was not a place with fertile soil, they petitioned the Spanish government to move them into more fertile territory.
In a Revolutionary War for Honduras Independence in the 1800s, the Garifunas fought on behalf of the British and some fought for the Revolutionaries, which caused some to be executed, and others fled to Nicaragua, Guatemala and Belize. In a research conducted by a Doctor of Anthropology, Nancy Gonzalez, in the British archives in London, she discovered that the British government had uniforms in Belize waiting for the Garifunas to wear to help them fight the Spaniards in the Battle of St Georges Caye of September 10, 1798. This was after they were removed from their native homeland Saint Vincent and taken as prisoners of war to Roatan, Honduras.
Our Garifuna people have survived several setbacks in the past. Yet, we remain resilient that no one or nothing will hinder us from doing any and everything as a people to preserve our culture. It is our responsibility as Garifuna individuals to do something in order to contribute to the preservation of our culture. If we do what we are supposed to do individually, then collectively as a people we will remain strong and united.
Let us not forget that when we were deported we were expected to die and never to be heard from again. Today, with the determination of our people and the support we continue to receive from our ancestral spirits, our culture is still alive and kicking. I urge every Garifuna not to sit down idly by and wait for the Garifuna culture to die but to do something in his or her lifetime to ensure that day will never come to past in his or her lifetime.
Our forefathers Thomas Vincent Ramos, CJ Benguche, Elijio Beni, Satulle, our late brother Andy Palacio and all the other Garifunas who contributed to make this day a reality and we the living, who continue to work towards the preservation of our rich culture deserve a big round of applause.
Many of our Garifuna brothers and sister have migrated from Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Belize to the United States and other countries throughout the world. No matter where we live, every year around this time there is a special feeling that enters our mind that is inexplicable, and which brings back good memories of celebrating Garifuna Settlement Day in our native countries. Especially in Dangriga, Belize, where it all started in the Culture Capital.
Several activities leading up to the 19th November Day have already commenced throughout Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Belize, the United States and all the communities where Garifunas reside. This year we will be looking forward to have plenty of fun to witness the sigh of relief our ancestors felt when they landed on the beaches of Dangriga many years ago. | | | | Reads : 1606 | | | |
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