PBI-Honduras article points to the displacement that occurs due to extractivism and tourism

The most recent Peace Brigades International-Honduras Project newsletter notes: “Over the past forty years, the number of Hondurans who migrate to the United States has increased by 3,000%. Studies note that we are facing a cycle of migration under a context of neoliberalism in its extractive phase. The consequences of tourist projects in Garífuna communities are particularly concerning.”

That paragraph in the newsletter then links to the PBI-Honduras article: “We do not want to be part of the caravans”.

That article notes: “In the Garífuna community of Barra Vieja (Atlántida Department) in 2014, the National Police and Military attempted to expel the inhabitants to move ahead with the construction of the Indura Resort tourist project.”

While Canadians may be aware of Canadian mining companies in Honduras, there may be less familiarity with Canadian real estate development there.

In December 2014, journalist Sandra Cuffe reported: “As Canadian investors gradually take over lands in Honduras’ Trujillo Bay for tourism and real estate projects, Afro-Indigenous Garifuna communities along this stretch of Caribbean coastline are being displaced.”

Trujillo is located on the coast about 280 kilometres east of the Garifuna community of Barra Vieja noted in the PBI-Honduras article. Trujillo is about 260 kilometres east of the community of Triunfo de la Cruz where PBI-Honduras notes in this Facebook post five young men (four of them Garifuna) were disappeared nine months ago.

Cuffe highlights: “Rio Negro, a Garifuna community, was largely displaced under threat of forced expropriation to make way for [a new cruise ship port in Trujillo].”

“Sixteen kilometres to the west, the Garifuna community of Guadalupe is now bordered by Alta Vista, one of Canadian investor Randy Jorgensen’s several residential development projects marketed to Canadian snowbirds.”

She adds: “Other Canadian developers have since followed, but Jorgensen remains the main player in the area.”

The article also quotes Jorgensen who says: “We sold 500 properties to Canadians. They’re starting to call it Little Canada.”

While Cuffe’s article was written almost seven years ago, Trujillo Vista, posted this video just two years ago. It highlights: “We are a Canadian real estate development firm selling a beach side project in Trujillo Honduras.”

The website of the North York, Ontario-based company notes: “Trujillo, Honduras is an up and coming marketplace on the verge of becoming the next Caribbean Hot Spot. It is slated for major development including a much larger cruise ship port.”

That website also describes Alta Vista (the same name as Jorgensen’s development) as “a private gated community landscaped with the lush flora and fauna of Honduras, that offers both beach side as well as ocean view properties for sale.”

With some of this additional context in mind, we encourage you to read the PBI-Honduras article “We do not want to be part of the caravans”.