History

A large group of Afro-Caribbean people arrived by boat in Stann Creek on November 19, 1823. These new arrivals were the descendants of exiled residents of St. Vincent Island who had been transported as slaves from Africa. Dubbed the Garifuna, they had been exiled after trying to revolt against their British captors.^[1]

In January 1962, Francisco Sagastume, a political opponent of President Ydigoras Fuentes and unsuccessful candidate for the constituency of Petén, arrived with 19 Guatemalan followers and one renegade Belizean at the village of Settlement 201. There he announced that liberation was at hand. On receiving the news 10 of the party discreetly returned to Guatemala in the rain, whilst the leader and the others went on to Settlement 224.

In Settlement 201 he had solemnly burned photographs of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, together with a Union Jack. Having thus symbolically destroyed the British Empire, he should not have been surprised that the Indians in Settlement 224 were hostile. Their ancestors had left Guatemala three generations ago to avoid conscription by press gang methods and the forced loans that were then common in Central American politics.

The party was requested to leave town, and the local policeman provided them with a truck to do so. They went to within three miles of Punta Gorda Town, and abandoned the vehicle, having run out of petrol.

The leader and three others were rounded up the next day by the police of Punta Gorda Town, which were backed up by a detachment of the Royal Hampshire Regiment. One of the men had already given himself up, and the rest were captured a day later.

In March 1962 they were tried in the Stann Creek Town Assizes of the Supreme Court before the Chief Justice. Sagastume and his Belizean accomplice received sentences of 10 years' hard labour. Two of the Guatemalans were bound over to keep the peace and seven were acquitted. The leader and his aide served about nine months of their sentence, and in December 1962 petitioned the Governor of British Honduras for pardon, which was granted.

The prompt movement of troops and the complete serenity of the people of Belize, who made no manifestations outside the Guatemalan Consulate, did not pass unnoticed in Guatemala, where the Government maintained a correct attitude of detachment from the whole affair.^[2]

SI 16 of 1972 updated the boundaries.^[3]

SI 24 of 1973 amended the boundaries.^[3]

The boundaries of Dangriga were updated on May 9, 1983.^[3]

On April 1, 2025 all towns in Belize had their boundaries updated.^[4]

In 1888 the First Alcalde was Sebastian Serano, the Second Alcalde was Tomas Estero.^[5]

The Town of Stann Creek was completely blown away on the 31st of October, 1961 by Hurrican Hattie after it had destroyed Settlement 176 and Belize Town.^[2]

On November 20, 1971, Hurricane Laura's eye passed over Stann Creek Town, destroying half of the nearby plantation crops and also destroyed the longest pier in town.^[6]

Dangriga was declared a town on February 15, 1895 as Stann Creek Town.^[7]

In 1975 Stann Creek Town was renamed to Dangriga, meaning 'Sweet Water'.^[8]

In 1949 the police force consisted of 9 officers, with transportation consisting of 1 motorcycle.^[9]

Improved mail and passenger services by motor vessels were established in 1924, the routes being Belize Town-Settlement 64-Orange Walk Town and Belize Town-Stann Creek Town-Settlement 387-Settlement 172-Punta Gorda Town. These services were subsidized by the government and mail was carried under contract.^[10]