Garifunas journey back to St Vincent and the Grenadines
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| Published on Thursday, August 21, 2008 |
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NEW YORK, USA: The Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc. has announced that the Regional Integration and Diaspora Unit (RIDU) Office of the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, has accepted its proposal for Vincy Homecoming 2009-The Garifuna Reunion.
In a letter addressed to the Board of Directors, the Director of the RIDU, Ambassador Ellsworth John stated, "On behalf of the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, I would like to congratulate the Garifuna Coalition USA Inc as you hold your first Annual Yellow White and Black Fundraising Gala on Saturday November 15, 2008. We wish you every success as you strive to build the Garifuna Coalition Advocacy Center to organize on behalf of the Garifuna Immigrants.
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| St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves |
"The Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph E. Gonsalves has asked me to convey to your organization the high regard he holds for you in your aspiration to lift high the cause of the Garifuna Diaspora. We are looking forward to welcoming all of your members for Vincy Homecoming 2009-The Garifuna Reunion. We are ready to work with you to develop an exciting and fulfilling program to ensure that you have a full appreciation of your homeland, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Yurumein).
"The Minister of Culture, Rene Baptiste has included Vincy Homecoming 2009-The Garifuna Reunion in her strategic plan for 2009 and is anxious to begin working on the logistical and administrative details to ensure that your welcome home is flawless."
As descendants from shipwrecked slaves who sought refuge in mainland St. Vincent and intermarried with the Caribs and Arawaks, the Garifunas or Black Caribs, are part of the unique cultures and melting pot of ethnicities that have their roots in the Caribbean. 211 years ago, everybody wondered if the Garifunas were going to survive as a people and live a long healthy life.
Two years after the paramount Garifuna Chief Joseph Chatoyer was killed on March 14, 1795, the Garifuna people were exiled from their native land of St Vincent (Yurumein!) to the island of Roatán, off the coast of Honduras from where they dispersed along the Atlantic coast of Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and Nicaragua.
However, 212 years later, not only have they survived but will be returning to their homeland St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Yurumein!) The Board of Directors of the Garifuna Coalition has organized a planning committee for this historic event and has extended invitations to Garifuna organizations of the Diaspora to participate and will publish additional details in the near future.
"This will be a historic event as we journey back to our homeland, Yurumein!" said Rejil Solis, president of the Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc. | | | | Reads : 697 | | | |
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