Milestone reached as Garifuna culture highlighted in 2025 VINLEC calendar 

By Admin. Updated 3:18 p.m., Friday, December 20, 2024, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4). 

More than a century ago, speaking the Garifuna language in St. Vincent and the Grenadines could have led to severe consequences, including death. Today, however, Garifuna words are prominently featured on each page of the 2025 calendar produced by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Electricity Services Limited (VINLEC).

VINLEC, the state-owned company that serves as the sole commercial supplier of electricity in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), publishes an annual calendar to celebrate the country’s natural and cultural heritage. This calendar is distributed to its more than 50,000 customers.

This year, the company partnered with the Garifuna community (locally, regionally, and internationally) to highlight Garifuna heritage and culture.

The calendar which features each month of 2025 accompanied by images, illustrations, brief Garifuna history, and a scannable code for more information was launched today at the company’s conference room in Kingstown under the theme: “We are Garifuna: the Power of Preserving Our Past”. 

Garifuna is a hybrid race that came about when Indigenous Amerindians interbred with Africans in St. Vincent. They led the strongest resistance against British colonialism in the Anglophone Caribbean resulting in SVG having the shortest period of slavery in the Caribbean. 

After the ambush and murder of their leader Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer on March 14, 1795, however, more than 5,000 Garifuna were captured and exiled to Ballicaux, a dry and barren tiny Island in the Nothern Grenadines.

About years later, the 2,000 or more who survived were then exiled to Roatan Island from where they spread to other Central American countries.

Today, the descendants of the Garifuna on both sides of the Caribbean Sea are trying to amplify and preserve what is left of their culture and heritage, and the move by VINLEC to highlight Garifuna heritage is seen as part of those preservation efforts. 

Mr. Vaughn Lewis, the CEO of VINLEC said the purpose of the calendar is to highlight Garifuna culture and provide education to all. 

Mr. David “Darkie” Williams, the President of the Garifuna Heritage Foundation, expressed his pleasure regarding VINLEC’s invitation to the foundation for input on the calendar. He noted that while this contribution represents only a small piece of Garifuna history, it is an important step in raising awareness.

Mr. Williams highlighted that the exceptional standards and quality of VINLEC’s calendars over the years have been evident, and he is particularly pleased with this year’s production.

He mentioned that this initiative follows two other significant actions taken in the past to recognize Garifuna culture: the declaration of Joseph Chatoyer as a National Hero and the designation of March as National Heroes and Heritage Month.

Meanwhile, former Minister of Culture Rene Baptiste emphasized the challenges she faced while advocating for Garifuna culture and heritage during her tenure. She stated that the inclusion of Garifuna elements in the calendar is very important for future generations.

She added that calls for the declaration of Balliceaux as a national monument are justified and would be another move to recognize Garifuna heritage and culture.  

VINLEC’s Communication Officer Ms. Bria King said: “We are deeply grateful to the Garifuna Heritage Foundation, our closest partner in this project, for saying “yes” immediately and working alongside us every step of the way to ensure that the information we share is accurate.”

“This calendar is more than just a tool to mark the days—it is a resource, a celebration, and a call to preserve and honor the rich Garifuna heritage,” she added. 

Meanwhile, after the event, One News SVG spoke with the Principal of the Fancy Government School, Ms. Wendy Child, a Garifuna descendent who teaches Garifuna language at the basic level, to get her thoughts on the production of the calendar. 

She said that when VINLEC reached out, “we were elated,” because there was somebody out there who was interested in highlighting the little that we do to preserve the Garifuna language. 

“It really gives us hope the movements are being made to recognize who we are as a people,” she said. 

The calendars are available for the public at VINLEC’s headquarters at Paul’s Avenue in Kingstown.