St Vincent and the Grenadines buys island central to Garifuna culture
Members of the Garifuna community are celebrating 'a historic and long-awaited victory' after the Caribbean nation of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) announced the purchase of a privately owned island where thousands of their ancestors perished from disease and starvation.
The uninhabited island of Baliceaux has long held great significance for the Garifuna people, the descendants of enslaved Africans and Indigenous Kalinago and Arawak people.
In 1796, British forcesejected about 5,000 Garifuna men, women and children from their homes on mainland St Vincent and marooned them on the barren island in an attempt to quell decades of resistance to colonisation.
Left with no shelter and little food or water, nearly half of the exiles had died from starvation and disease before British ships returned the following year to transport them 1,700 miles away to the island of Roatán off the coast of Honduras.
Since then, Baliceaux has been seen as a sacred place by today's Garifuna, a population of about 600,000 scattered around the world. Activists have long campaigned for the island to be bought from its private owners and designated as a heritage site.
On Thursday, the SVG prime minister, Ralph Gonsalves, announced in parliament that the island had been acquired for the nation because of its historical significance.
'The Government of St Vincent and Grenadines, given the historic importance of Baliceaux, has taken the decision to acquire Baliceaux,' he told lawmakers.
He did not reveal the terms of the deal, but said the owners would be given 'fair compensation within a reasonable time'.
Ubafu Topsey, an activist from Belize who has been at the forefront of the fight for Baliceaux said:
'We are ecstatic that the government of SVG is doing the right thing for us. [Gonsalves] put his money where his mouth is. He made his promise a reality.'
Topsey, who is preparing for an annual Garifuna pilgrimage to Baliceaux on 14 March – celebrated in SVG as National Heroes Day in honour of the Garifuna chief Joseph Chatoyer – said this year's visit would be an occasion for special celebration.
'It is our homeland… and every Garifuna around the world understands that these are holy, sacred grounds. We are just so thankful and joyful,' she said.
Topsey is hoping the island will become a World Heritage Site in honor of the Garifuna people, who she said were 'transnational' and borderless'.
She also expressed hope that vegetation could be encouraged on the parched island.
'That barrenness is too much of a reminder of our grief and our suffering, and moving forward, we have to go beyond the pain and the agony and the suffering. Although we will never forget it, it is a tremendous opportunity for healing and setting an example for unlimited possibilities for future generations,' she said.
Princess Eulogia Gordon, 35, a California publicist and Garifuna campaigner, described the news as an opportunity for unity.
'Baliceaux doesn't just belong to us. This is bigger than us. This is truly about unity and family and togetherness,' she said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
7 hours ago
- Reuters
Sudan's prime minister dissolves government, state news agency reports
CAIRO, June 1 (Reuters) - Sudan's new Prime Minister Kamil Idris has dissolved the country's caretaker government, state news agency SUNA reported late on Sunday. SUNA did not specify when a new government, the first since war broke out between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, would be announced. Idris was appointed by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan's head of state. The RSF has said since earlier this year that it would form its own parallel government with allied parties. Idris took the oath of office on Saturday as the country's first prime minister since a military-led coup in 2021. In a speech on Sunday, he vowed to remain at equal distance from all political parties and to prioritize stability, security, and reconstruction in Sudan.
Daily Record
9 hours ago
- Daily Record
Gardeners issued warning over popular plant that's banned from sale and are urged to 'bin it'
Garden designer expert Diarmuid Gavin has warned gardeners about the distinctive-looking weed parrot feather which must be disposed of immediately if you spot it in your garden pond. As garden ponds heat up, aquatic plants are thriving, but it's crucial to maintain a balanced mix to keep the pond in good health. Oxygenating plants like hornwort and water buttercup help purify the water by absorbing nutrients, while floating native plants like frogbit and water soldiers offer extra surface cover and nourishment for fish. Irish garden designer expert Diarmuid Gavin was sent a query from a Mirror reader this week who was concerned about a thick green plant engulfing his pond, which he suspected was a weed. Evaluating the reader's description, the plant expert advised that it looks to be a parrot feather, or Myriophyllum aquaticum, which is definitely a weed, that he is dealing with. Writing in his column for the Mirror, Gavin gave his expert advice on the situation. He wrote: "To me, it looks like parrot feather, Myriophyllum aquaticum, and it's definitely a weed. It's classed as invasive and is banned from sale. My advice is to remove the lot, bag it up and bin it. "Its role as an oxygenator needs to be replaced so I recommended the British native Myriophyllum spicatum, spiked water milfoil. This aquatic plant lives submerged in slow-flowing streams and ditches, as well as lakes and ponds. It has feather leaves but tiny reddish flowers emerge on spikes in June and July. "But plants that we should encourage are hardy geraniums, or cranesbills - among the most dependable and versatile herbaceous perennials for any garden. "Available in a wide range of shapes, sizes and colours, their growth habits vary from neat ground-huggers to shrubby mounds several feet tall. This diversity makes them perfect for ground cover, floral borders, and even pots or containers." He added: "What's more, they're incredibly easy to grow. Many varieties thrive in partial shade, some tolerate full shade, and others flourish in full sun. They require minimal maintenance, are generally pest-resistant, and their open, delicate blooms are magnets for pollinators. "Colours range from pure white and soft pinks to deep purples and vibrant blues. " Speaking of what he grows in his own garden, television personality Diarmuid, who has presented the Chelsea Flower Show nine times, admitted: "I realised I have no fewer than seven varieties in my own garden." He continued: "At the front, I grow Geranium macrorrhizum, a creeping pink semi-evergreen that's quietly spread over the years in a most agreeable way. "Its sticky leaves release a fresh, herbal scent when rubbed – a lovely surprise. It's my go-to plant for dry, shady spots where little else will grow. Beneath the birch trees is 'Ann Folkard', easy to spot with its vivid magenta glowers and dark centres. It handles dry shade well and looks striking alongside the limey-green froth of Alchemilla mollis. "It's got a more rambling habit, weaving naturally through neighbouring perennials." Gavin continued on: "A star performer still to bloom is 'Rozanne', famed for its large, violet-blue flowers that bloom non-stop from early summer to autumn. It's equally at home in borders or containers – ideal for patio gardeners looking for long-lasting colour. "In the back garden grows Geranium palmatum, the Canary Island geranium. Despite its sun-loving roots, it's surprisingly content in partial shade. A biennial that self-seeds freely once settled, it offers lovely fern-like foliage and soft pink flower sprays. "More humble, but just as charming, is our native G. robertianum, or herb Robert. Depending on your perspective, it's either a cheerful wildflower or an unwelcome weed. "I rather enjoy its spontaneous appearances – especially at the base of my tree ferns, where the small pink blooms contrast beautifully with the dark, hairy trunks." Moving onto the next plant, he explained: "From Madeira comes the flamboyant G. maderense – perhaps the most spectacular of all. A tender biennial, it requires protection in cooler regions and can only be grown outside in mild, coastal gardens or under cover. When it flowers, it produces a show-stopping dome of pink blooms well worth the effort." The garden designer concluded: "Not forgetting 'Mrs Kendall Clark', a taller variety with elegant grey-violet flowers and foliage that turns red before winter. She's a perfect companion to roses, lavender and other herbaceous plants, thriving in sun or part shade in moist soil. "You'd think that would be enough, but geraniums are addictive. I'm already eyeing up G. phaeum 'Samobor' for a shady patch. With its dusky maroon flowers and beautifully marked foliage, there's always room for one more." Garden expert Diarmuid Gavin has listed the top things, that keen gardeners should be doing in their garden this week below. The information is all in his own words. What to do in your garden this week With hotter temperatures, keeping plants, particularly those in pots and containers, well hydrated is the main priority. It's good seed-sowing time – sow ornamental annual flowers straight into the ground and succession sow summer veg like lettuce, radish, beetroot and spring onion so you'll have an ongoing supply. Take softwood cuttings. The tender new growth of many plants will root easily, for instance fuchsia, hydrangea, lavender. Cut beneath a leaf node where there is a concentration of growth hormones, trim leaves and dip in some rooting powder and plant in pot. How's your compost heap looking? Turn it over to air it and add some moisture if it is too dry. Water peas and beans as they are starting to flower so will be particularly thirsty as they form pods. Carrot seedlings will also need thinning. Fruit in pots will be calling out for a high-potash liquid feed and those in the ground will like a sprinkle of slow release fertiliser. Protect developing fruits from birds with netting. Hot sunny days can cause overheating in the greenhour. Keep vents and windows open during the day and check plants daily for watering. Damp down on very hot days with a hose to increase humidity. Lilies need staking now. Oriental poppies look amazing – briefly – but after their spectacular flowering, cut them back and you might just get another flush of flowers. Harvest salads and radishes and continue to sow them in fortnightly batches.
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Brace for the 'bathtime tax'… Bigger families face being punished with huge bills as Labour 'backs plans to ramp up charges on high users'
Families have been warned to brace for a 'bathtime tax' as ministers back plans to ramp up costs for higher water users. The government has voiced support for suppliers testing new tariffs that penalise households consuming the most. That could include 'seasonal' charges, meaning water would cost more in the summer. Trials have also been taking place for 'rising block' tariffs, where prices get steeper the more you use. But the Tories warned that the 'punitive' arrangements would deal a hammer blow to young parents, at a time when water costs are rising across the board anyway. Alarm has been sounded over water supplies after the driest start to spring in England for almost 70 years. Companies have been urging the government to get behind variable tariffs, which they argue would cut bills for many households with lower consumption. However, that would almost certainly require smart meters being installed in all homes to provide real-time data on usage. The government has voiced support for suppliers testing new tariffs that penalise households consuming the most Currently only around 12 per cent of households in England are though to have smart meters, with conventional meters far more common. Periodic readings have to be taken from those. Around 60 per cent of homes in England are currently metered, but the vast majority of those have a conventional meter from which periodic readings are taken. The Government estimates that only 12 per cent have smart meters, which are connected to the internet and provide data directly to the utility company. Answering a Parliamentary question from Tory frontbencher Kevin Hollinrake, water minister Emma Hardy said last month: 'This Government supports the innovative approaches being taken to trial new charges aiming to make bills fairer and more affordable. 'All companies plan to trial new charging structures by 2030 and some of them plan to introduce them more widely for additional customers if the trials are successful. 'Companies can design their charges to provide benefits and incentives in a range of ways. 'As the water regulator, Ofwat regulates the charging trials by issuing rules that require companies to set fair charges for all customers, and to ensure all trials are consistent with good practice principles.' Mr Hollinrake said: 'Labour want to levy socialist-inspired tariffs to punish those who have worked hard to improve their homes and gardens. 'This is a Net Zero stealth tax on children's bathtime.' A Government spokesman denied there was any plan to legislate on smart meters or 'progressive' tariffs. 'This is complete nonsense. The Government has no such plans,' the spokeswoman said. A Labour source added: 'This is absolute rubbish from the same Conservative Party that broke our water industry. 'After their rule, water bills skyrocketed and we had record levels of sewage being pumped into our rivers.' Ofwat has previously called on companies to consider charging customers a premium for hot tubs, swimming pools or extensive sprinkler systems. It has also suggested companies look at seasonal charging to help lower bills in winter – or at whether bills could be reduced for homes with water butts and permeable driveways.
