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GARIFUNA CELEBRATION MASS HELD YESTERDAY IN BROOKLYN NEW YORK CITY

By: Wellington C. Ramos

            On Sunday the 9^th of November 2008 Garifunas from all over the New York City Metropolitan Area packed Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn to participate in their annual Garifuna Celebration Mass officiated by Father Lawrence Nicasio a relative, classmate, friend and Pastor of Saint Ignacious Church in Belize City Belize. He was assisted by our two local Deacons namely Deacon Harold Sampson and Deacon Osborne Miranda. This mass was organized by a Garifuna Activist in the New York community Mrs. Rosita Alavarez-Aranda in conjunction with Dorina Mendez-Castillo, Mrs Manuela Sabio famous Garifuna musicians and artists Ms Paula Castillo, Mr James Lovell and their organizations. Mr Martin Bermudez and Simon Castillo were both responsible for the videotaping and photography.

           Before the mass started the Priest, Deacons, Drummers, Choir Group along with all the participants assembled at the back of the church and paraded through the isle of the church singing Garifuna songs and beating the drums. After they arrived at the alter everybody dispersed and went to their respective seats. Several participants were called up to read selected verses from the Bible in the Garifuna Language. Father Nicasio’s sermon was based on this year’s theme in encouraging our Garifuna Youths to get involved in the various aspects of our Garifuna Culture to appreciate, cherish, love and do something to further enhance and preserve the culture for future generations to come. He also stressed that we are all Garinagus despite the fact that we come from Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Belize. He urged the Belizean Garifunas to stop the prejudice among themselves based on the fact that they are from Barranco, Punta Gorda, Seine Beight, Georgetown, Hopkins and Dangriga their traditional communities in the country of Belize.

           During the mass the choir group along with the congregation song many beautiful songs in the Garifuna Language and James Lovell later song a Garifuna translation of the song “By The River Of Babylon”. During the singing of this song one could have felt the spirit and the mood of the audience inside the church. Everybody was joyous and reaching out holding the hands of their fellow Garifuna brothers and sisters. After the mass was completed, Mr Jerry Castro an aspiring Garifuna Politician from the Bronx seeking a Senatorial Seat was introduced to the audience to give a talk about his quest to become the first Garifuna Senator in the State Senate of New York. Father Nicasio then ended the mass and a procession was held from the alter to the main door of the church where the crowd dispersed and gathered in the Reception Hall downstairs.

         The reception was hosted by drummer Vincent Servio singer Ricky Martinez, DJ Robert Mejia, Paula Castillo, James Lovell, Mrs Castro’s dance and drummers group and several others who got into the Garifuna Spirit to dance and sing. This year will commemorate one hundred and seventy-six years since the Garifunas left the shores of Honduras in large numbers to settle in the town of Dangriga Belize. Throughout all the Garifuna Communities in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the United States, there will be several cultural activities held leading up to the Belizean National Holiday on the 19^th of November every year. Many Garifunas will be leaving the United States and the other neighboring Republics to go to Belize for this year’s celebration like they have been doing for more than a century. I can still remember when my relatives use to come from Livingston on a boat called “Ilda” that docked at the pier in Dangriga Town. During that time their were several excursions held by the late George Pastor back and forth to Guatemala and Honduras to re-unite the Garifuna People with their relatives. People use to be at the pier in large numbers awaiting their love ones. All Garifunas in Belize have relatives in the neighboring countries who they communicate with from time to time.

          This year’s celebration will conclude with a dance to be held by the Ilagulei Dance Company on Saturday November the 15^th, 2008 at Eastwood Manor 3371 Eastchester Road in the Bronx. The donation is $70.00 per person which will cover the cost of food and drinks. For further information feel free to contact the following individuals; Mrs Dorina Castillo 917-714-9225, Mrs Cordelia Cayetano 718-589-6455, Ms Catherine Ramos 347-571-3101 and Ms Elida Palacio 917-842-6974. Music will be provided by DJ Rob and he will be backed up by “Live Drumming” all night.

        The Garifuna Celebrations Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate all those individuals who have contributed to the success of this year’s 19^th of November Celebrations. Without your wholehearted support nothing would have been possible. Caribbean Net News would like to inform the general Belizean audience that Belize Caribbean Net News will be launched soon for all your Belize news, announcements and advertisements. For further details fell free to contact Wellington C. Ramos at 347-312-2563 or Email me at: we.ramos@hotmail.com. Kindly pass on this information to all your friends and relatives. Thanks for supporting the most reliable and dependable news source in the entire Caribbean region Caribbean Net News.