The Regional Integration and Diaspora Unit (RIDU) is this week hosting a group of 60 representatives of Garifuna Organizations from Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua and the USA.
The year, 2017 marks the 220th anniversary of the attempted genocide, forced migration and subsequent resettlement of the Garifuna People to countries in Central America.
The visit of the group has been dubbed: The Pilgrimage of the Garifuna Diaspora to SVG, and members of the delegation will be involved in a number of activities.
Tomorrow Thursday August 10th, there will be a Garifuna Mass (Lemesi Garifuna) in memory of their ancestors at the St. Mary’s Cathedral of the Assumption, Kingstown at 3:30 pm.
This will be followed by an official ceremony at 6:00 pm at the Peace Memorial Hall. Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves will be the featured speaker at that event.
Members of the visiting delegation will also be engaged in a series of visits to Byrea, Rabacca, Sandy Bay, Fort Charlotte, and Fancy, among others.
They are scheduled to leave the state on Tuesday August 15th.
