Garifuna Heritage Foundation of St Vincent to Receive Award

New York – The Board of Directors of the Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc. a, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization is pleased to announce that the Garifuna Heritage Foundation of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) will be presented a Garifuna Heritage Award, during the First Annual Garifuna Heritage Awards and Cultural Night on March 13th 2010 at 7 PM at the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture, 450 Grand Concourse Bronx, NY 10451.

The Garifuna Heritage Foundation (TGHF) was selected in recognition of its grassroots activism and contribution to support the Renaissance of the Garifuna Heritage and Culture in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. During the Garifuna Reunion last July TGH signed a Memorandum of Understanding with The Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc., St. Vincent and the Grenadines Organization of Pennsylvania, Inc. and the Garifuna American Heritage Foundation United, Inc. (GAHFU) of Los Angeles California, to promote the Garifuna Heritage and Culture in all parts of the Garifuna Diaspora as well as to collaborate in practical ways to support the Renaissance of the Garifuna Heritage and Culture in St. Vincent and the Grenadines "Yurumein" the Ancestral Homeland of the Garifuna people.

Furthermore, it joined with the Rose Hall Cultural Development Organization to bring together seven traditional Garifuna communities to share knowledge, discuss ideas and formulate strategies for the promotion of the Garifuna culture and heritage, under the theme, ‘Exploring our Garifuna Heritage from past glory to future success.”

It also sponsored a regional symposium under the theme “Research and Practice of the Garifuna Heritage and Culture as a Reflection of Caribbean Indigenous Experience,” as well as an exhibition on ancient Vincentian artifacts under the theme “From the Orinoco to Exile”. It also plans to hold a round-table discussion in St. Vincent and the Grenadines with Garifuna organizations from the Diaspora, to further facilitate this process of Garifuna renewal. Mr. David Williams, president of the Garifuna Heritage Foundation will be present to receive the award.

The first Garifuna Heritage Awards will honor those who have made outstanding contributions to the preservation and promotion of the Garifuna Culture. The annual event, which is a flagship event of the Garifuna Coalition, celebrates the contributions, legacies and future of those of Garifuna heritage.

A dynamic cultural stage production will feature James Lovell and the AfriGarifuna Youth Ensemble, Hamalali Wayunagu Garifuna Dance Company,Chief Joseph Chatoyer Garifuna Folkloric Ballet of NY, Paula Castillo and Hechu Garinagu and a grand finale directed by Mr. Crisanto Armando Meléndez.


The Garifuna Heritage Awards and Cultural Night is an integral part of the Garifuna Heritage Month 2010. The proclamation will be presented by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr and New York State Governor David A. Paterson’s office during a press conference in the Rotunda of the Bronx Borough President’s Office on Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 11:00 AM. 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY.

info@garifunacoalition.org