7 News Belize

To Be Garinagu in Guatemala
posted (April 18, 2018)
For the past few days, we've been providing you with extensive coverage of our news team's trip to Guatemala City for Sunday's ICJ referendum.

We spoke to plenty of people on the streets of this city of 3 million residents, but one group we haven't shown you yet are a group of Guatemalan Garinagu who have ties to Belize. We found them performing Garifuna music for a packed restaurant in the heart of one of Guatemala City's Commercial areas.

We asked them if they were going to vote in Guatemala's ICJ referendum, and it's as if we insulted them with the question. Here's how they explained why they won't support taking Guatemala's territorial Claim to Belize to the ICJ:

Guat/Belizean
"I live in Belize for like 11 years ago, he lives in Belize for like 20 and some of us we came from Belize too, we are also from Guatemala, and we over here in a Garifuna restaurant so that we can show our culture to the people that come to enjoy our food."

Reporter
"How long have you been living here?"

Guat/Belizean
"We have four years living here."

Reporter
"Who owns the restaurant?"

Guat/Belizean
"They have a lady named Myra, she is the owner, she is a white lady, she is not a Garifuna like us."

Hipolito Novelo- Reporter
"Do you have Belizean nationality?"

Guat/Belizean
"No, I am Guatemalan but yes I grew up in Belize."

Hipolito Novelo
"So, you can vote in this referendum?"

Guat/Belizean
"Yes, I can vote."

Hipolito Novelo
"But you are not going to vote?"

Guat/Belizean
"No, I am not going to vote."

Reporter
"Why?"

Guat/Belizean
"Because I have people in Belize City, so I have family in Belize City. To me, it doesn't make sense because, like I said, I grew up in Belize City. I was born in Livingston and grew up in Belize City. So, I have family in Belize City. I have sisters that were born in Belize City. So, for me, we have to join together and have a better understanding, so we can comprehend and get bigger."

Daniel Ortiz- Reporter
"Why not vote when the understanding is that you take it to the ICJ and you resolve it peacefully. Why is it that you think that it is not a good idea to vote?"

Guat/Belizean
"It is not fair because I think things will continue just like it is. Now, they say that this is the first vote. They are going to have four more. So, we are not sure what is going on or what is happening. It is some border they are fighting over. It is something that we could understand and get through, just sit down in a chair and get an understanding so we can never resort to fighting. Belize and Guatemala are close places so we don't have to fight with each other. That is what I think about."

"We are family, we are not supposed to fight, you know. We are supposed to bring this together. Like that we can get more strength. That is the way I see it."

Hipolito Novelo
"So you are not going to vote yes or you won't at all?"

Guat/Belizean
"I'm not gonna vote yes nor no."

Hipolito Novelo
"Have you been discriminated here in Guatemala?"

Guat/Belizean
"Yes, we live in discrimination. I am a Garifuna from Livingston and we all live discrimination. In Guatemala, there is a lot of discrimination in our job. I work in a call center here because I come with the English from Belize, so I work in a call center because, you know, over here in Guatemala it is only Spanish. So, in my job, there is a lot of discrimination. Sometimes we lose jobs because of discrimination but it is something we are struggling with."

Guatemala's population is 15 million and - according to their census - less than ten thousand are Garifuna. Most of them reside in "La Buga" or Lingston, as it is known.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize