“Garifuna Nation” Says G.O.B. Abusing Settled Lands

Cynthia Ellis

A group calling themselves the Garifuna Nation is calling out the Government of Belize for what they say is an abuse of lands the Garinagu settled prior to colonization.  Like the rights affirmed to the indigenous and tribal peoples of Belize in the Maya land rights case, the executive of the group says they have the right to enjoy the same freedoms in territories that were settled by Garifuna over two hundred years ago. The group says Garinagus are being pushed out of  land in Punta Gorda and Seine Bight.

Cynthia Ellis, Ambassador, Garifuna Nation

“They are very angry, very hurt, very upset. The good news is, this is an opportunity for them to vent. It is a healing process the community itself. The people have mobilized. They are having dialogues. They are holding many people accountable, including the Garifuna organizations, leaders and government. This is very powerful. They have also organized dialogues for themselves like having town meeting. We have had several meetings and consultations. Right now people are basically tired as we are hearing the stories from members of the communities themselves, stories of land which was sold two, three decades, the level of corruption, and all these atrocities have taken place. Atrocities such as lack of clarity concerning Garifuna land, and ancestry and what was passed on as legacy, you could hear the hurt, pain and suffering of the people.”

Ellis told News Five there was a meeting scheduled with Prime Minister John Briceño this evening to discuss these issues.