BELMOPAN, Belize, Nov 10, CMC – The Belize government has denied social media reports that no Garifuna Settlement Day decorations would be on or around any government buildings as it sought to clarify the issuance of an internal memo from the Treasury Department.
In a statement, the government said that it had become aware of the October 29, 2026 internal memo, which directs that only the September celebration and Christmas decorations will be officially sanctioned in the Treasury Department and in sub-treasuries.
But it said that “some blogs on social media have erroneously concluded that Government has instructed that no Garifuna Settlement Day decorations are allowed on or around any government buildings countrywide.
“The Government of Belize would like to clarify that the internal memo, which referred only to the Treasury Department and sub-treasuries, was written in reference to Halloween decorations, to which some persons took offence for religious or personal reasons.”
Garifuna Settlement Day is a national public and bank holiday celebrated in Belize every November 19. marking the arrival of the Garinagu (Garifuna) people, descendants of West African, Arawak, and Kalinago people, who were exiled by the British from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Belize government said it also to take “the opportunity to advise social media users that not everything on that forum is accurate,” adding that it is looking “forward to celebrating Garifuna Settlement Day, as is done every single year with the fanfare, celebration, and respect it deserves.”
CMC/jg/ir/2026