Dear Friends, Leaders, and Allies,

I extend this heartfelt invitation from The Garifuna Nation’s US headquarters. Today, we stand at a pivotal moment in our history. Our ancestral lands are under threat, our political voice is diminished, and our socio-economic challenges persist. But together, we can rise to meet these challenges head-on.

The government’s ongoing development projects on our sacred Carib reserve lands—such as the deep-water port—have proceeded without our consent, disregarding our rights and heritage. Coupled with this, the malapportionment in Belize’s electoral divisions further weakens our representation, limiting our capacity to advocate for our community’s interests effectively.

In response, the Garifuna Nation’s executive team is ready to mobilize our community like never before. We recognize the gaps in our socio-economic conditions and are committed to bridging them through unified action. We need your voices, your leadership, and your participation to shape our path forward.

We invite leaders from women’s, workers’, youth organizations, and all allies who are passionate about justice and empowerment, to join us.

Meeting Details:

• Dangriga: Saturday, November 16th, (10AM to 1PM – Brunch)
• Hopkins Village: Saturday, November 16th – (3PM to 5PM – Lunch)
• Georgetown: Thursday, November 14th (10:00 am – brunch)
• Pieni: Friday, November 15th, (10:00 am – brunch)
• Barranco: Sunday, November 17th, (10:00 am brunch)
• Siene Bight: Friday, November 14th, (3:00 PM)

Proposed Agenda:

1. Welcome and Opening Remarks – Unity in purpose and strength.
2. Updates on Development Projects – Impacts on our lands and people.
3. Addressing Electoral Malapportionment – Strategies for fair representation.
4. Socio-Economic Empowerment – Bridging the gaps with expert leadership.
5. Community Engagement and Field Visits – Hearing directly from our people.
6. Strengthening Leadership – Building capacity to meet our community’s needs.
7. Group Discussions – Open forum for ideas and contributions.
8. Forming Alliances and Action Plans – Building a collective roadmap for the future.
9. Only 2% of tourists come to Dangriga: Dangriga is the Culture Capital. Why is this?

We seek to engage 10, 20, even 30 representatives from each community to voice their concerns, aspirations, and solutions. This is a unique opportunity to participate directly in shaping the future of the Garifuna Nation. Together, we can ensure that every voice is heard and every concern is addressed.

Let us come together, harness our collective power, and build a brighter, more modern future for the Garifuna people.

Please RSVP to confirm your attendance as this initiative is based on INVITATION ONLY.