Sen. Luis Sepúlveda introduces resolution to
celebrate Garifuna-American Heritage Month
By Nelson A. King
The Bronx-based Garifuna
Coalition USA, Inc. says it was
“pleased to announce” that New
York State Sen. Luis R. Sepúlveda,
32nd Senate District, has
introduced Senate Resolution
No. 1802, “memorializing Gov.
Kathy Hochul to declare March
11, 2022, to April 12, 2022, as
Garifuna-American Heritage
Month in the State of New York.”
The Coalition said on Saturday
that this is “in observance of
the 225 anniversary of the Forcible
Deportation of the Garifuna
People by the British from their
ancestral homeland St. Vincent
“Yurumein”, (presently known as
St. Vincent and the Grenadines),
and their settlement in Central
America in 1797.”
“For more than 10 years, from
my community work and activities
as an elected official, I have
been able to develop a relationship
of friendship and solidarity
with this magnificent community,”
Sepúlveda said. “Thanks
to this relationship, I have been
able to learn and be enriched by
their culture, roots, dreams and
concerns.
“I have been able to allocate
funds for problems that affect
them, and I have seen how they
are an essential part of our community,”
Caribbean L 8 ife, March 11-17, 2022
he added.
As the former Assembly member
of Assembly District 87, the
Coalition said Sepúlveda was
among the sponsors of a New
York State Assembly resolution
and became the lead Senate
sponsor, on his election in April
2018.
Furthermore, on April 8, 2016,
then Assembly Member Sepúlveda
introduced Assembly bill No.
A09791, an act to amend the education
law, in relation to instruction
on the Garifuna people, the
Coalition said.
It said he also nominated
Rosemary Ordonez-Jenkins as a
Democratic Judicial Delegate in
the 2014 State elections, becoming
the first Garifuna person
elected to a political position in
New York State.
Beginning in 2011, the Coalition
said a Garífuna delegation
would travel from New York City
to the Capitol Building to attend
the introduction of the resolution
ceremonies at the Assembly and
Senate Chambers.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
the Coalition said Sepúlveda
will present Senate Resolution
No. 1802, during the Hello
Spring Pop Up Shop Party Part
6, on Saturday, March 12, 2022,
3:00 pm. – 8:00 pm. at Princesos
NY Venue, 360 E Gun Hill Rd.,
Bronx, NY 10467.
The Coalition said Garifuna
Heritage Month celebrates the
history, culture, achievements,
and contributions of the Garifuna
People to the societies of
Belize, Guatemala, Honduras,
Nicaragua, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines and the United States
of America.
“It raises awareness and promotes
greater appreciation of
Garifuna history and traditions,”
the statement said, adding that
New York City is home to the
largest Garifuna population outside
of Central America, with an
estimated population of 250,000.
New York State Sen. Luis R. Sepúlveda. Garifuna Coalition, USA,
Inc.
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