BELIZE AND GARIFUNA COMMUNITY

Barranco the southernmost garifuna village in Belize.  The birthplace of prominent educators and the late great Andy Vivian Palacio.

This month I am doing a write up about the Village of Barranco, the birthplace of Andy Vivian Palacio.  The History of Barranco is taken from the 1997 Warigoun Barangu booklet.

Barranco is a beautiful Garifuna Village located in the southern coast of Belize. It is believed that the village was settled circa 1860 by Santiago Avilez.  Barranco was once a thriving village with fishermen and farmers.  The settlers and their decendants grew their staple foods including cassava, rice, cocoa and plantains.  The soil in Barranco is very rich and produced the best tasting fruits in the country and was know for the sugarloaf pineapple.  Barranco also is the home of unique fruits like molly apple, star apple and masapa.  The inhabitants also raised their own poultry and livestock.  Due to migration to seek employment, the population of the village is now a little over one hundred.  However, the relatives return to their beloved village on most holidays or to attend a mass, dugu or funeral.

 Barranco is recognized as one of the last traditional Garifuna communities in Belize.  Barranco from it's humble beginnings has had three Roman Catholic churches.  In the photo album you will see picture of the original church and the current church.  I cannot locate picture of the second church.  Barranco is also known for the great teachers and contributors to Belize who were born and raised there. Some of the great teachers are Mr. Sam Daniels, Mr. Candido Arzu, Mr. Victor Nicholas, Mr. Theodore Palacio, Mr Fab Cayetano, Mr Sab Cayetano, Mr Roy Cayetano, Mr EP Cayetano and the list goes on and on.  Mr Theodore Palacio as lead the Garifuna Choir for a number of years.  He grew the choir to acclaim in Belize.  Barranco boasts a small quaint postoffice, a large Dabuyaba, a large Church, a community hall, a school, a Police Station and a Museum.  

          Barranco Church                                         Barranco Post Office

 Barranco is the birthplace of the late Victor Nicholas, the late Andy Palacio, Ted and Bridget Palacio, Dr Joseph Palacio, Linda Arana, Fr. Calistus Cayetano, Sebastian Cayetano, Silas Cayetano and a host of other garinagu.

 Andy P and Victor Nicholas                                                                              

Link to the History of Barranco.

The Historical Context of Barranco

Appreciate the update Kevin. As I recall US Capital had been stopped from performing exploration due to non compliance with Environmental Regulation. I would assume from this update that they are now in compliance. Would be good if Evan Caye would review an electronic  copy of the EIA and its stipulation, as this should be a public document. I would imagine that this EIA is posted on the website of the Dept of Environment, but would be good if someone can confirm. The villagers should also have access to a hard copy of the document.

Lan Barangu Luban Garifunaduau

By Rita Enriquez

The building is Olivia Avila’s house in Barranco, built in her family lot. Mrs. Olivia Avila is the daughter of the late Mr. Joseph Pollard Palacio and Mrs. Hilaria (Lala) Palacio. Mrs. Avila saw the time coming when she would need to settle down in Punta Gorda, her adapted home (where her husband, Cyrillo Avila is from) because she was getting on in age. Rita Enriquez, her daughter who partly grew up in the original house and had fond memories of life in Barranco decided to add to the house to make it a holiday home.

Then the idea came; perhaps the house can be made into a Garifuna Culture House to display and preserve Barranco Garifuna artifacts, and host language and cultural retrieval workshops for the children and youth of the village. Rita Enriquez had observed that the Garifuna language and rich culture was slowly slipping away from the younger generation. This idea was discussed with family members and they all gave encouragement and support. The Lan Barangu Luban Garifunaduau was inaugurated with Baranguna in full attendance on November 15, 2005.

The value of the building including the artifacts is approximately $100,000. The artifacts were bought from the villagers at reasonable rates. There is hope for expansion and improvement as foreign and local tourists keep coming to visit. There is the saying that you have not come to Barranco if you have not visited Lan Barangu Luban Garifunaduau. There is also the need for the establishment to be a resource centre for our youth. Presently, Mr. Paul Palacio is curator/caretaker. He is a diligent worker. Olivia Avila, my mother and I try to be there at least once a month.

About  Me

Rita Enriquez has been an educator for most of her life. She acquired her educational foundation in the schools of San Antonio, Toledo (with her uncle, Mr. Theodore Palacio as principal), Barranco, and Punta Gorda. At the tender age of sixteen she began teaching, first at St. Joseph School in Barranco and then at St. Peter Claver School in Punta Gorda. In 1972 she became a trained teacher and later got married to Lloyd Enriquez, then moved to teach at the Belmopan Junior School. In 1992, she became the principal of the Belmopan Upper School, later named Garden City Primary School from which she retired from the primary school system in 2005. Rita and Lloyd have three sons, Lloyd Jr. Glen and Colin. She holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and is presently a lecturer at the University of Belize, Belmopan Campus. Rita Enriquez whose right name is Alberita Avila Enriquez is now pursuing a doctoral degree in education from Nova Southeastern University.

 

CENTENARIAN LIVING IN SOUTHERN BELIZE

February 22, 2010

Last Thursday Sam Martinez turned 100 years old.  Martinez is originally from Barranco Village in the Toledo District but now resides in Edinburgh. 

 A release from the Belize High Commission in London says Martinez joined a number of men from British Honduras in answer to a request from colonial government for men to work in the forests of Scotland and contribute during World War II. The group also included Amos Ford, Mr. Phillips and Carlton Fairweather. They arrived in Scotland in November 1942 and were deployed t forestry camps all over Scotland to fell trees for the war efforts.

Martinez is featured in a documentary called  “The tree fellers” and his story as well as that of other noteworthy Belizeans such as Nadia Cattouse are featured at the Imperial War Museum in London and can be accessed on www dot IWM dot Org dot UK.

You may also visit this link featuring Mr Martinez

Through My Eyes Mr Sam Martinez

Barranco Summer Craft Programme

I am pleased to announce the schedule of classes that will be offered this summer to Barranco children. This year there will be four classes offered. All classes will run from Monday to Friday beginning at either 9:00AM or 2:00PM and ending at either 11:00AM or 4:00PM. There will be no charge for classes. All materials and tools  will be supplied by the teachers.

Please fill out and return form on or by the 12th of April to be considered for enrollment. Student enrollment is limited. If the number of students is higher than the maximum enrollment for a class, the students will be chosen by lots. Class members will be told if they are in a class by April 18^th.

The classes are to expose to the children different ideas and skills, learning to follow instructions and complete tasks set for them. And, above all, the classes are offered so the children can enjoy themselves. This is not a competive situation but a place to challenge oneself and  expand ones understanding of things around them

Girl Empowerment through Bench Building

This class is for girls only to expose the students to basic carpentry skills. Students will learn to use hand tools and pwer tools to build a bench that will be donated to the school to be used on the school veranda. This class will be taught by Miss Dawn and has a limit of 8 students. This class will be offered from the 16th of August through the 20^th of August. The class will be in the forenoon from 9:00AM to 11:00AM. This class is open to girls from the age of 7 through 16.

Cooking for Small Children

This class is for young boys and girls and will introduce them to basic skills in cooking. Broiling, baking, poaching, simmering, folding, frying and other cooking skills will be consider while creating great food. Emphasis will be placed on foods and skills that should be new to the students. This class has a limit of 4 students This class will be offered from the 9^th of August through the 13^th of August. The class will be in the forenoon from 9:00AM to 11:00AM. This classes is open to students who have completed Infant 1 and have not completed Standard 2.

Cooking for High School Students

This class is for young men and young woman . This class will emphasis foods from various different cultures and the different skills required to prepare them. What this class does will be driven by the interests of the students. Try new things expand ones awareness. This class has a limit of 4 studentsThis class will be offered from the 16th of August through the 20^th of August. The class will be in the evening from 2:00PM to 4:00PM. This class is open to students who are in high school or other secondary school.

Basket Making

This class is for boys and girls. This will introduce children to basic basketry skills. Student will complete several baskets during the week. Weaving and twining will be some of the skills learned. This class has a limit of 8 students. This class will be offered from the 16^th of August through the 20^th of August. The class will be in forenoon from 9:00AM to 11:00AM. This class is open to students who are in standard 4 or higher.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This form must be completed and returned to Carlson by the 12^th of April. No application will be accepted after that date.

Name of student                                                                    ____________                 

Age of student             

Class they wish to apply to enroll                                                                                    

Second class they wish to enroll                                                                                       

Student Signature ______________________________________________________

Barranco Library

Through My Eyes Mr Sam Martinez

Barranco and PG Genealogy