PM Gonsalves honoured by Garifuna

Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves was presented with a staff as an appreciation for his efforts to protect and advocate for the history of the Gariguna people.

The staff was presented by President of the International Garifuna Council, Trevor Palacio, during the annual wreath laying ceremony at Dorsetshire Hill on Friday, March 14, 2025, observed as National Heroes Day.

At the ceremony, attended by a delegation of Garifuna residing outside St Vincent and the Grenadines, where this country’s sole National Hero, Garifuna Chief, Joseph Chatoyer was honoured, Palacio declared Gonsalves’ Garifuna name, ‘Abuti Nolaglay Joseph Chatoyer’, which translates in English as ‘Messenger of Chief Joseph Chatoyer’.

In his address to the gathering which also included students, members of the Diplomatic Corp, Member of Parliament, and a range of other nationals, Gonsalves expressed gratitude for the staff, which solidified his recognition by the Garifuna Council. He then provided a history lesson on how Britain acquired St. Vincent and the Grenadines through the Paris Treaty.

“When the British came, they meant business. They brought a lot of men with guns, and they brought some Bibles,” he said.

He said this occurred around 1763, when both France and Britain controlled parts of the Caribbean.

The Prime Minister emphasised Chatoyer’s fight for freedom and sovereignty, using him as an example of leadership and resilience. Gonsalves urged the audience to honour the Garifuna people and their ancestors by promoting the nation’s cultural heritage.

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