Balliceaux is for memorial purposes says Prime Minister

The main purpose for the acquisition of the island of Balliceaux is for the approximately 323 acres of land to serve as a cultural and historical memorial site dedicated to the Garifuna people.

This was made clear on National Hero’s Day, March 14, 2025 by Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves while speaking at the Obelisk at Dorsetshire Hill during the annual ceremony to honour the memory of National Hero, Chief, Joseph Chatoyer.

Gonvalves told the gathering that the acquisition is ensuring that national patrimony is preserved for future generations. The island of Balliceaux was acquired by the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) on March 5, 2025.

The acquisition of the island, sacred to the Garifuna, followed an announcement made on Monday January 13, 2025 by Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves, during his presentation of the 2025 National Budget.

Prime Minister Gonsalves reading on March, 6, 2025 in Parliament from the acquisition Bill said: “The second publication reads as follows, whereas it is enacted under section three of the Land Acquisition Act, Chapter 322 that, if the Governor General considers that any land should be acquired for a public purpose … may cause a declaration to that effect to be made.

“And whereas it is considered by the Governor General that the under- mentioned parcel of land should be acquired for a public purpose, to wit the purpose of a cultural, historic, memorial site, and to keep as part of our national patrimony.

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