NGC Institutions
Pablo Lambey Garifuna Cultural Center
NGC’s national headquarters—the Pablo Lambey Garifuna Cultural Center—was completed in 1997. Located at 175 Commerce Street, Dangriga, the Center serves as NGC's administrative hub and a convening venue for meetings and cultural programs.
Mr. Pablo Lambey, former NGC President, demonstrated foresight and initiative by acquiring land at the mouth of the Stann Creek River, envisioning a vibrant cultural center for the Garifuna people. His goal was to create a destination offering year-round cultural activities that would captivate and educate tourists about the rich heritage of the Garifuna community.
The National Garifuna Council (NGC) and the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) proudly highlight the Gulisi Garifuna Museum in Dangriga—Belize’s flagship institution celebrating Garifuna history and living culture. Inaugurated on November 18, 2004 and made possible through contributions from hundreds of Belizeans and businesses, the museum delivers an immersive, multimedia experience covering Garifuna origins, customs, and traditions.
Visitors can hear ancestral drum rhythms, tour a working garden of traditional plants and herbs, and experience cultural dance. The museum honors Gulisi, a revered matriarch who, after exile from St. Vincent and deportation to Roatán, journeyed to Belize with her thirteen children and founded Punta Negra in the Toledo District.
Gulisi Garifuna Museum
Visitor Information
Hours
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Monday–Friday: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
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Saturday: 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (noon)
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Sunday: Closed
Appointments
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For group/special visits, contact Mr. Peter Ciego at +501 605-1272.
Admission
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Belizeans & Residents: BZ$5.00
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Non-Residents: US$5.00
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High School Students (with ID): BZ$2.00
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Primary School Students (with ID): BZ$0.50
011.501.502.0639
Gulisi Community
Pre and Primary School
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Model: Intercultural bilingual education integrating Garifuna language, history, and culture with the national curriculum.
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Founding & Governance: Established 2007; inaugurated 2011; operated in collaboration with the National Garifuna Council under the leadership of Mrs. Phyllis Cayetano.
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Location: On the campus of the Gulisi Garifuna Museum & Monument in the heart of Dangriga, Belize.
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Scale: ~200 students (recent indicator).
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Programs: IBE partnership, cultural initiatives, and ongoing digital enablement (e.g., laptop deployments).
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Contact/Admissions: Primary updates and intake details are shared via the school’s official Facebook page.
School Motto
Education for Excellence
TONY RATH PHOTOGRAPHY
Garifuna Chuluhadiwa Monument
The Chuluhadiwa (“We Have Arrived”) Monument anchors Chuluhadiwa Park beside the Gulisi Garifuna Museum in Dangriga, commemorating the Garinagu’s arrival, survival, and prosperity; the site serves as a focal point for education and celebration. According to NGC records, the monument was constructed in 1984–1989, and in 1999 the NGC purchased ~14 acres encompassing the site to develop a larger Monument Complex—envisioned to include a museum/library, auditorium, dabuyaba (temple), cafeteria, and a traditional-home gift shop.
The museum/library component was funded by the Government of Belize and the Republic of China (Taiwan) and opened on November 18, 2004; subsequent rehabilitation support has come via NICH and the Belize Natural Energy Charitable Trust. The flagpoles at the monument represent the nations where Garinagu live today—Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua—alongside their ancestral homeland, St. Vincent & the Grenadines; the park occasionally displays these national flags during cultural events.
Hamalali Garinagu Radio Station
In 2002, the Commonwealth of Learning donated a portable radio transmitter to the National Garifuna Council, enabling the launch of Hamalali Garinagu NGC Radio. Broadcasting from Dangriga on 100.1 FM since May 25, 2002, the station airs daily 6:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., delivering community programming that elevates Garifuna music and culture alongside contemporary genres. Coverage currently serves the Dangriga area, with a strategic roadmap to scale nationwide across Belize.
Cassava Processing & Demonstration Center
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Purpose: A National Garifuna Council (NGC) facility that trains community members and visitors in traditional cassava (ereba) processing—from grating and pressing to baking—preserving a core pillar of Garifuna foodways and livelihoods.
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Status & Launch: Inaugurated in 2018 as part of the Belize Indigenous Garifuna Trail initiative.
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Location/Use: Situated at the Monument Site along George Price Drive, near Gulisi Community Primary School in Dangriga; frequently used for hands-on workshops and cultural demos (e.g., “Let’s Bake Our Cassava Bread”).
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Community Impact: Supports food sovereignty and cultural transmission; note that the associated demonstration plot has faced climate impacts (e.g., flooding losses in recent years), underscoring the center’s resilience and ongoing relevance.