On August 1st 1834 plantation slavery, a most horrendous and barbaric system
of human exploitation was abolished in the British Caribbean. However, it was
only four years later on August 1st 1838 that emancipation was granted to the
slaves in the then British Caribbean colonies.
On this the 164th anniversary we must look back and recognise all those who struggled for over two hundred years to end the system of slavery.
It is an opportunity to also recognise the tremendous contributions made by Guyanese of African decent in all areas of endeavour and national development.
Guyana holds the honour in the history of this hemisphere of holding the first successful slave rebellion which overthrew the Dutch and were in control for over a year before it was brutally and ruthlessly smashed. Our ancestors’ courageous rebellion was the precursor for the Haitian revolution which established the first free state lead by black people in 1801.
We must recognize that freedom from slavery and freedom to have control over ones’s destiny lead to collective action by the newly freed to purchase land from former plantation owners so as to establish their communities, their villages. This was a brave and bold step by our ancestors to have a say in their own development and betterment, long held desires which they had passed from one generation to another when the hope of freedom seemed almost an impossible dream.
The purchase of Victoria, Buxton, Friendship, Bagotville-Nismes and the establishment of the first free villages of Guyana is a remarkable historical phenomenon, one that led to a distinct village movement and local government system and democracy based on the communities’ participation and involvement in the decisions of their welfare.
This focus on collectivity was matched with a pre-occupation with education as the key to opportunities for advancement in the wider society. This is reflected in the very sizeable number of persons who dedicated their lives to teaching and the development of the educational system before and after Independence.
It is fitting that we, as a nation, should seize on this moment of our anniversary of Emancipation and our 36th anniversary of our Independence not only to revisit and share in the pain, trials and tribulations of the past but to re-affirm our collective
resolve to consolidate the gains of freedom and to build our newborn democracy as our ancestors started on August 1st, 1838. On this anniversary as Guyanese we must recognise that Emancipation is a process and one that began with the abolition of slavery but one that has no finite date as we work together towards creating a society in which all are equal and all can share equally as we face tremendous challenges in the new global order as a small developing nation.
It is our duty, and indeed the national imperative to marshal these generous qualities, to emulate the greatness of our ancestors and collectively advance the cause of our national development.
On the occasion of this Emancipation Day, I join with the rest of the Guyanese society to salute our African ancestors and to celebrate our Emancipation movement which we continue as a nation towards freedom, equality and democracy.
Happy Emancipation Day to all Guyanese!