Government to acquire island of Balliceaux

The treasured island of Balliceaux is no longer for sale, as it is being acquired by the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

This was announced on Monday January 13, 2025 by Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves, during his presentation of his 2025 Budget address. Considered by the minister as a act of historical reclamation, Minister Gonsalves said this was triggered in 2024 by the prime minister’s declaration that the Government would seek to either purchase or acquire the island of Balliceaux.

Minister Gonsalves said this declaration signalled a major shift in policy, related to the revered island.

In the past, government focused on finding acceptable uses of the island and refused to approve any Aliens Land Holding License for investors who sought to use the island “ in a manner that diminished its cultural or historical significance”.

Instead the Government gave an indication to buy the island from the purported owners. Balliceaux is the uninhabited island to which 5000 Garifuna were exiled after Chief, Joseph Chatoyer was murdered.

After five months in exile, 2412 of them died of starvation or disease on the barren island which was also without water.

The surviving Garifuna were later forcefully moved to to Roatan Island, off the coast of Honduras.

Recalling the injustice, Minister Gonsalves said “ the blood of those 2412 Garifuna victims, still stains the soil of Balliceaux today, and their bones litter the landscape of what is is essentially a mass grave.”

“Their remains were never properly buried or respectfully treated, in accordance with indigenous traditions.”

He said the mass grave of the Garifuna people was repeatedly peddled as a playground for rich foreign investors.

However this will no longer happen, as “ the island of Balliceaux will return to the Vincentian people in 2025.

In her contribution to the 2025 Budget Debate on Wednesday, Opposition Senator, Shevern John stood in Parliament as a proud Garifuna woman and commended the government on this move.

“Being a proud Garifuna woman, I was happy to hear the announcement by the Minister of Finance, on the government’s intention to acquire Balliceaux.”

Senator John who is the New Democratic Party’s candidate for the North Windward constituency, said Balliceaux is the sacred site of her ancestors. Members of Garifuna delegations making their annual pilgrimage to Yurumein (SVG) and Balliceaux, have called for the government to acquire the island.