The Pros And Cons Of Garifuna Constitutional Reform

An event that is marked in infamy in American history was the forceful eviction of native Americans from their land for white settlement. Many tribes were lost due to the expansion of the country that is now called the United States. Many people think that as unfortunate and tragic the loss of a life and culture of the Native Americans was, tragedies like this do not occur in the modern world. However Native Americans were not the only ethnic group marginalized. African Americans were brutalized for centuries as slaves, once "freed" from slavery to later be considered subhuman until the civil rights movement destroyed that though. Such brutalities and flaws of the American System are still considered subhuman until the civil rights movement …show more content…
Just twenty years ago after one of the most devastating hurricanes in the country has had to endure a law was passed making the lands in which the Garifuna inhabit as private and sellable as stated by Ronald Morgan in his article "Garifuna Communities Stand" [Garifunas) are under attack in the wake of a post hurricane constitutional reform which redefines traditional communal lands as private property. The reform part of the government's plan to have private investors rebuild the country" (49). The latter discussed by Morgan is becoming a reality as the Garifuna land is in a potential tourist spot greatly desired by investors such as Randy Jorgensen whore nationality is Canadian. Jorgensen's desire for the lands is the result of a nearby cruise ship port. As stated by journalist Sandra Cuffe, " A new cruise ship port is now open for business in Trujillo, a town of just over 10,000 about 400 kilometers north of the Honduran capital. Rio Negro, a Garifuna community was largely displaced under the threat of forced expropriation to make the way for the project." Jorgensen who made his money by launching adult video stores all over Canada is threatening the expansion in the Garifuna tow of …show more content…
One of the methods the government uses to obtain the land is using its military against its own people. "We have about 1500 acres of residential development underway now. We were forced to "sell" 500 properties of our ancestral lands" (Colon) Heavily armed forces were used to evict the Garifunas from their land. No warrants were given and many arrests took place. Another injustice the Garifuna face is being changed from a native protected status to immigrants. "Our ancestral Garifuna name dates from pre Colombian times including our culture. The Garifuna name has been erased from the history books. In efforts to promote international tourism." (Chaffe). By making them descendants and not a tribe their lands are no longer protected. This not only demoralized but also discredits their entire culture. But the government is not the only one demoralizing. Investor Randy Jorgensen believes that the land is not getting into use disregarding other human beings that have no government assistance and live of the land. (Cuffe 1). Jorgensen blatantly says this ethnic group has no purpose, further demoralizing irs people. What its worst irs that a government rejects its people for dollar signs and forgets that their culture is essential to the country's