Last night we introduced you to the new Miss Garifuna Belize City, 15 year old Kathleen Sabal. She was selected on Saturday at the Miss Garifuna Pageant at the Bliss Center. That was the first activity on the calendar of events for Garifuna Settlement Day. Branch Treasurer Trudy Cuthkelvin gave us a rundown of the other events.
Trudy Cuthkelin, Treasurer – Belize City Branch NGC
“The theme for this year is Iunrahowa Meme Hama Isanigu Lidoun Garifunaduau Lau Pantau and that is ‘Continuing to proudly empower our children in their Garifuna heritage.’ This is following up from last year’s theme so all we are doing is continuing to proudly empower our children and this is important because the youths will be the ones who will continue the culture because the older people will definitely die off at some point in time. So the younger people will be able to continue our culture.
Our next big event is the hudut sale that we will have this Friday October 31st. It is $10 a plate and I am letting everyone know that the elders are cooking this hudut so they know what great hudut should taste like. When you talk about rich coconut milk, we’re not talking about the one from the pack, we are talking about grated coconut squeezed and strained. So this will be wonderful hudut, we have a lot of guys that will be coming out to beat the plantain so it is smooth, no chunks just smooth hudut and it will be super excellent. It will take place at Mrs. Arana’s yard which is corner Mahogany and Jasmine Street.
On Saturday we have a night of drumming and singing. This will also take place at Mrs. Arana’s yard which is corner Jasmine and Mahogany Streets. That night you can come out in your Garifuna attire, you can come out in your street clothes, it doesn’t matter – there will be a lot of drumming, a lot of singing, you can learn more about our dances and stuff like that.”
On Thursday evening there will be a solidarity mass at the St. Martin Deporres Church at 7 pm.
