Reclaiming the True Meaning of Garifuna Settlement Day

by James Lovell

During the month of November, culminating today, November 19, the towns of Dangriga and Punta Gorda in Belize come alive with festivities to commemorate Garifuna Settlement Day. For anyone visiting southern Belize at this time, the experience is unforgettable. Garifuna Settlement Day proudly showcases Garifuna culture and heritage. The streets are filled with the pulse of Garifuna drums, vibrant and energetic dancing to Punta Rock, and the sight of traditional Garifuna attire in bold colours-primarily black, white, and yellow. Alongside these celebrations, alcohol is abundant, and the air is thick with ganja smoke, as locals and visitors alike come to embrace the spirit of Garifuna Settlement Day. This lively scene, however, often overshadows the deeper, more soulful significance of the holiday. Today, Garifuna Settlement Day celebrations can sometimes resemble indulgent festivities rather than a true reflection on Garifuna resilience and pride. This article seeks to bring clarity to the meaning of November 19, fostering a celebration that honours the history, sacrifices, and enduring strength of the Garifuna people. As a Garifuna artist and cultural activist, I draw upon collective memory and research to offer insights into the day’s true purpose and to inspire pride in both Garifuna and non-Garifuna readers. The Garifuna story is one of resilience against genocide, discrimination, and exile.

Pilgrimage to Baliceaux Island, Yurumein, St. Vincent and the Grenadines – March 2023 (Credit: James Lovell)

Garifuna are an ethic group of African and indigenous heritage concentrated in Central America with reach across the Americas. West Africans settled in St. Vincent and the Grenadines mixing with Arawak and Carib as reflected in their Garifuna language and Dugu religion. Garifuna people were never enslaved but fought and continue to struggle to retain their land, freedom and identity. They were exiled
from Yurumein by the Colonial powers that invaded the country after Chatoyer’s death but continues to treasure Yurumein as their homeland.

We celebrate Garifuna Settlement Day to honour and remember our ancestors’ struggles and achievements, beginning with Joseph Chatoyer, the Paramount Chief of Chiefs. The Right Honourable Chief Chatoyer, with his loyal chiefs, bravely fought against colonialism and the threat of enslavement.
He organized his warriors to protect their human rights, land, and freedom in Yurumein. His leadership forced the British and French to negotiate peace treaties, recognizing his strength and vision. A leader, healer, statesman, military general, and family man, Chief Chatoyer ultimately gave his life to preserve his people’s freedom. While we celebrate November 19, let us not forget to honour Chief Chatoyer’s legacy by reflecting on our history and creating activities that engage youth in learning and commemorating our ancestors’ sacrifices. “Nadagumei wama luagu” means let us work on it.

We celebrate paying homage to Thomas Vincent Ramos, the visionary leader who established Garifuna Settlement Day.  Ramos was not only the founder of Garifuna Settlement Day, but he was also a community advocate associated with the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). UNIA was founded by the late Jamaican political activist, Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr and known as the first important American, Black nationalist movement.  As Garvey fought for Black independence, Ramos fought discrimination against Garifuna people, including all Afro-Belizeans. Ramos was a true Garveyite who devoted his life to the welfare of the Garinagu (Garifuna people).

Ramos saw the hardships faced by the Garinagu in Dangriga and petitioned Belize’s colonial government to designate a holiday honouring Garifuna contributions and heritage. His petition succeeded, and we celebrated the first Garifuna Settlement Day as a public and bank holiday in southern Belize, later expanding nationwide. Ramos foresaw the official holiday as an economic enabler for the Garifuna
people, bringing tourism and commerce to Garifuna communities. Garifuna organizations must reclaim control of the economic benefits generated by the festivities. Growing up in Dangriga, I saw how local businesses and entrepreneurs benefited from the influx of people during Garifuna Settlement Day, with the town’s population nearly tripling. Yet, the Garifuna community itself sees little of this economic return. Garifuna leaders should negotiate with business owners and vendors to allocate a portion of profits to support Garifuna cultural initiatives, which would fulfil the vision that Ramos, a man dedicated to uplifting his people, lived and died for.

Garifuna Settlement Day honours those who perished in the Garifuna Holocaust on Balliceaux. This barren island, with no water or shelter, became a prison for over 5,000 Garifuna men, women, and children forced there by the British. After eight months on Balliceaux, half of the population perished, their remains scattered on the island.

As we celebrate, we must remember their suffering and the sacrifices our ancestors made for future generations. Garifuna Settlement Day remembers and shows reverence for our ancestors. Let us not forget that without Chief Chatoyer, there would be no November 19. Without the vision of Thomas Vincent Ramos, there would be no holiday to celebrate. Without our ancestors who resisted slavery,
colonization, and imperialism, the Garifuna people would not have survived.

To all Garifuna, wherever you may be… let us make Garifuna Settlement Day a meaningful celebration. Let us celebrate while also honouring those whose shoulders we stand on.