Garifuna delegation
In September 2021, a delegation from the Central American Black Organization (CABO), representing the GarÃfuna Diaspora asked Kate Astbury and Abigail Coppins for help in funding a visit to Portchester Castle so that the delegation could pay tribute to indigenous ancestors held there as prisoners of war in the 1790s.
The prisoners of war from the Caribbean held at Portchester were mainly from St Lucia but an important contingent were captured on St Vincent, including indigenous people. The visit from members of the diasporic Garifuna community was the start of a process to help share the story of these prisoners of war and their struggles for freedom in the Caribbean.
You can see a delegation's visit to Portchester Castle in September 2021 here:
A second delegation visited the castle in 2022, and Warwick's partner, SV2G was able to ensure they were welcomed at the West India Committee. Colleagues in SMLC and SV2G co-hosted a conference on the history of St Vincent which the delegation attended. The SV2G steel pan band were able to have a session on Garifuna drumming traditions during the conference. The conference programme can be seen here:
A Garifuna conference on the history and heritage of St Vincent
A recording of the conference is available here: