The Garifuna community celebrates a historic victory as St Vincent and the Grenadines government announces the purchase of Baliceaux island, connected to the tragic past of their ancestors. Thousands of Garifuna were deported to the island by the British in 1796, leading to mass deaths from starvation. The island is viewed as sacred by today’s Garifuna, around 600,000 worldwide. Activists have long campaigned for its recognition. Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves revealed the acquisition in parliament, emphasizing its cultural importance, promising fair compensation to the previous private owners.
Ubafu Topsey, an activist from Belize who has been at the forefront of the fight for Baliceaux said: "We are ecstatic that the government of SVG is doing the right thing for us. [Gonsalves] put his money where his mouth is. He made his promise a reality."
The Government of St Vincent and Grenadines, given the historic importance of Baliceaux, has taken the decision to acquire Baliceaux, he told lawmakers.
In 1796, British forces ejected about 5,000 Garifuna men, women and children from their homes on mainland St Vincent and marooned them on the barren island in an attempt to quell decades of resistance to colonisation.
Today, Baliceaux holds immense significance for the Garifuna people, with a population of about 600,000 scattered around the world who view the island as sacred.
#garifuna-community #baliceaux-island #cultural-heritage #st-vincent-and-the-grenadines #historical-significance
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