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Methodism in Belize and the People Called Garifuna: An Overview
November 2019
Garifuna Settlement Day was declared a national public and bank holiday in 1977, but has been celebrated in the south of the country, Dangriga since 1941 and Toledo 1943. But why and how a holiday?
The history of the Garinagu before and after arrival to Belize was one of brutal antagonism and hostility by the British, when they suffered genocidal cruelties and violence. They were banished from their homeland in the Eastern Caribbean in 1797, and on their mass arrival at Belize in 1832 were relegated to the south of the country; an area which was still under dispute with Spain. Maltreatments and exploitations continued in their interaction with missionaries, primarily the Roman Catholics. The recent news item of access to the Graham Creek School in Toledo, and the inhumane physical surroundings there, sounds like a “love-boat” story when compared to the cruelties that Garifuna teachers and their families endured in the name of education and spreading Roman Catholicism (Christianity) in rural and urban Belize. The survival of the Garifuna people with culture intact is a major feat, and due largely to courage—the mettle, valor and resoluteness of community leaders.
Leaders advocated for recognition and betterment for the people—health, land and social situations through organization such as the Carib Development Society from the Colonial authorities, the British. So it was that four leaders emerged and with the support of the Garifuna community advocated to recognize their contributions to Belize. The Four advocates who represented the people to the British Governor and his Executive were leaders of the Dangriga community, namely Thomas V Ramos, Mateo Avaloy, Pantaleon Hernandez, and Catarino J Benguche. It meant travelling from Dangriga to Belize in adverse conditions on several occasions until it was granted. Garifuna leaders were owners and workers in the mahogany and sugar industry in its heyday. They were in the forefront of Garveyism (UNIA, Universal Negro Improvement Association), unionism and democracy via the political movement from its inception in 1950’s at the local and national levels.
Our Belama Methodist Church is located on Thomas Vincent Ramos Street and with the historical involvement of Garinagu in Methodism, it is only right to pay tribute. According to the "The Centenary Number of the Methodist Record", the Wesleyan Methodist Church was "first proclaimed in Stann Creek by Captain Beni (father of Mr. Santiago Beni (deceased) and Grand Uncle of Mr. Simon Ventura.....in a humble hut built of salt water Pimento in the year 1828." Other Wesleyan preachers and teachers mentioned are: B.C.O Blanco, Theodor Martin, Simon Ventura, G.A. Nunez, Alexander Castro, Marcus Ramirez and Florencio Thomas. TV Ramos himself was a Wesleyan Methodist preacher and wrote several hymns. Our Bishop and other ministers identify as Garifuna, and in fact Dangriga has produced other preachers and ministers of the Methodist faith. I would like to claim Bishop Otto Wade, Rev. Ernest Belisle, Rev. Angus Cayetano, Rev. Elswith Clare; as well as our own Pastor Joan Leslie.

Our Belama Methodist Church is located on Thomas Vincent Ramos Street and with the historical involvement of Garinagu in Methodism, it is only right to pay tribute. This Sunday November 17, we will be presenting a short history of the people called Garifuna and sing the Lord’s Prayer in Garifuna.
According to the "The Centenary Number of the Methodist Record", the Wesleyan Methodist Church was "first proclaimed in Stann Creek by Captain Beni father of Mr. Santiago Beni and Grand Uncle of Mr. Simon Ventura.....in a humble hut built of salt water Pimento in the year 1828." Other Wesleyan preachers and teachers of the time mentioned are B.C.O Blanco, Theodor Martin, Simon Ventura, G.A. Nunez, Alexander Castro, Marcus Ramirez and Florencio Thomas. All preachers and leaders mentioned so far are Garinagu. Presently the Methodist Church of the Caribbean and Americas boasts 3 Garifuna Ministers. They are our very own Bishop Moses Benguche, Rev. Frederick Francisco and Rev. Angus Cayetano all from Dangriga. Along with Rev Otto Wade, Rev. Ernest Belisle, Rev. Elswith Clare, and Rev David Goff, and Pastor Joan Leslie, there are 8 Methodist Ministers from Dangriga currently serving or recently retired.
The pic: Men chanting (Arumahani), taken by Isani E. Cayetano

Sweet pain live November 19th at 8pm