Description:

The whole idea began with the dream to provide Garifunas with a clear, central voice and thereby a more powerful impact on issues of civic, economic and public policy. Therefore, in early 1991, my brother Tomás Alberto and myself began to develop the idea of organizing what would be the first ever national meeting of the Garifuna people in the United States. Up until 1991, no Garifuna organization had managed to bridge the divisions in national heritage, political ideology, and social class. In our opinion, Garifunas were not perceived as credible participants in social, business or political circles.