SICA Seeks to Promote Food Security for the Garinagu

Across the country, Garifuna Settlement Day is commemorated on November nineteenth.  Today, on the eve of national celebrations, Garifuna communities in Central America are launching a regional project which aims to strengthen the food security of the Garifuna people through the recovery of traditional production, as well as the promotion of local agribusiness.  Five communities, including Punta Gorda, Dangriga, Barranco, Hopkins, Georgetown and Seine Bight will benefit from the initiative over a twelve-month period.

Sandra Miranda, Vice President, National Garifuna Council

“ECADERT, as you know, is the development strategies for rural communities and it was geared for Central America.  Belize is involved in ECADERT from the beginning but the Garifuna got involved through the SICA process with Central America and MAMUGA, who initially started the process and got the Garifuna involved from Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Belize.  So that’s how we got into the process because they made contact with the National Garifuna Council, we welcomed the idea and then it began.”

Isani Cayetano

Sandra Miranda

“Briefly, what does the initiative entail, in terms of, from what I’ve gathered, a total of a hundred and ninety Garifuna families across the various communities will benefit from this particular objective.”

Sandra Miranda

“ECADERT benefits all rural communities.  So ECADERT is not only singling out families but this specific project that is being launched today across the board will benefit over a hundred and ninety families.  In Belize, we are targeting thirty families to benefit but from the five Garifuna communities.  The communities starting from the south are Barranco, PG, Georgetown, Seine Bight, Hopkins and Dangriga.”

Isani Cayetano

“Is it timely that such an initiative is being launched today on the eve of Garifuna Settlement Day?”

Sandra Miranda

“I agree.  It is so timely that it is being launched today and in Belize because it’s not only the Belize portion that is being launched today.  It’s the entire Central America project, as the SICA meeting just ended earlier this afternoon and so it gives us a reason to celebrate.  But what we need to celebrate more is when the project is actually implemented and is a success.  So yes, we celebrate the launch, we celebrate again at the end to see the product of this project.”

The Republic of China on Taiwan has provided financial and technical support for the project.