Indians in Belize comprise four percent (7,000 persons) of the population, Guadeloupe, eight percent (30,000), and Suriname, 37 percent (172,200). The Indians in Belize have lost almost all of their traditional culture, Guadeloupe still maintains some, while Suriname, has managed to preserve a rich Indian cultural heritage. If there is one country in the Western World that can be labelled “Little India,” it is Suriname. Interestingly, Belize and Guadeloupe are longing to re-discover and re-claim their Indian history, heritage and culture. Both countries are looking towards Trinidad for inspiration, interaction, support and sustenance.
Formally known as British Honduras, Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America. Bordered by Mexico in the North and Guatemala in the West and South, it lies at the heart of the Caribbean Basin. Belize has giant Mayan pyramids and the world’s second largest barrier reef. It has a mélange of over ten different cultures which are concentrated in specific areas in the six districts.
Unlike any other Caribbean country, Belize experienced three waves of Indian migration, commencing in 1858. The first wave of migrants consisted of 1000 deported ex-soldiers (and their families) who had rebelled against the British Government in India’s First War of Independence/ Sepoy Rebellion. The second wave of Indians went to Belize in 1872 as ex-indentured workers from Jamaica. The third wave of Indian migrants to Belize left from Guatemala, from where they had gone to work in the coffee plantations in Cafe Mountains.
Unique to Indian history in the Caribbean is the fact that early immigrant labourers worked in Belize in the sugarcane, as well as lumber and banana plantations. As early as the 1860s, they worked under the employment of American ex-confederates. With the passage of time, the mainly-Hindu immigrants have all converted to Christianity, resulting in the absence of temples and lack of festivals in the country. The only remnants of Hindu culture are the special preparation of food with turmeric [curry] and the observance of Hosay/ Muharram [Who-se-me-say]. Indians now comprise about four percent (7,000 persons) of the multi-ethnic population of Belize.
Guadeloupe is one of three French-speaking countries in the Caribbean. It has been represented in the French Parliament since 1871. Occupied by the British for a period of time, it was restored to France in exchange for all French rights to Canada in 1763. Guadeloupe is perhaps the only country in the Caribbean that has partnered with a city in India; Basse-Terre in Guadeloupe has been twinned with Pondicheri in India since 1981.
From 1854 to 1885, 42,326 Indian indentured labourers were brought by the French government to work on the sugarcane plantations in Guadeloupe. Most of the immigrants came from South India, unlike those of the English and Dutch-speaking countries in the Caribbean who came from North India. About one fifth (9,460) returned to India.
Indians now comprise eight percent (30,000) of the population of Guadeloupe. It is remarkable that they have been able to maintain their cultural practices after being cut off linguistically from India and other Indian diasporic countries.
After the abolition of slavery, the Dutch government contracted Britain to recruit labourers from India to work in the sugarcane, cocoa and coffee plantations in Suriname (then Dutch Guiana). From 1873 to 1916, 64 ships brought 34,304 immigrant workers to Suriname, a little less than the number to Jamaica (36,412). Indians (called Hindustanis) now comprise the largest segment of the population (37% =182,040) in the multi-ethnic society. They have established several radio and television stations broadcasting primarily in Hindi/ Sarnami. In addition to cultivating thousands of acres of rice, they have also built the most elaborate temples and mosques in the Caribbean. Most Hindustanis live in the city and travel to the Netherlands regularly.
