National Heroes Day in Saint Vincent and The Grenadines
National Heroes’ Day is a holiday in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and is observed annually on March 14th. This day honors Chief Joseph Chatoyer on the anniversary of his death on March 14, 1795. During the First Carib War, Chief Joseph Chatoyer forced the British to sign a peace treaty that set the boundaries between the British and the Carib areas of the island.
Saint Vincent and The Grenadines (Public holiday)Unfortunately, when the British began to continuously ignore the treaty, the Second Carib War began. It was during this war that Chief Joseph Chatoyer was killed at Dorsetshire Hill. He was named a hero for defending his country, and this holiday not only celebrates his commitment to the country but also the commitment of all those who have fought and died for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The History of National Heroes’ Day
Located in the southern Caribbean, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a nation that’s made up of 32 islands, although only 9 of them are currently inhabited. Christopher Columbus sighted the main island on January 22, 1498, and named it after Saint Vincent—the saint whose feast day fell on that date.
Over the years, the islands were disputed by many different European nations, including the British, French, and Spanish. The British would take control of the island, but the Carib population would rebel against this colonial expansion by engaging in the First Carib War.
A local Garifuna chief known as Joseph Chatoyer was eventually able to force the British to sign a peace treaty with the Caribs. A treaty that the British would eventually betray. When the British did betray the treaty, the Second Carib War would begin. During the war, Joseph Chatoyer was killed at Dorsetshire Hill on March 14, 1795.
Observing National Heroes’ Day
Even though this holiday falls on March 14th every year, it’s in the middle of Heroes and Heritage Month, and there are cultural events all around this date. Many people from St. Vincent will visit the Grenadine Islands to pay their respects to the indigenous people, and others will spend time with friends and family members.
Saint Vincent and The Grenadines (Public holiday)
