Emancipation Day messages

Aug 01, 2014 News

His Excellency, President Donald Ramotar
On the occasion of the 176th Anniversary of the abolition of slavery, I extend best wishes to Guyanese in general and to Afro-Guyanese in particular.
This is without doubt one of the most important dates in our history. It is also one of the major blows struck for the Independence of our country.
As we salute our foreparents for the sacrifices and the struggle they made towards our freedom, let us today take inspiration from it to score greater successes in building a strong economy and in strengthening our country as a whole.
Once again, best wishes for a brighter future for all.
Happy Emancipation!

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People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)
The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) joins the Guyanese people in celebrating the 176th Anniversary of the Emancipation of enslaved Africans. The Party regards this event as the most significant in the foundation of our nation and the formation of our society. It was the first step in our country’s long march towards social equality, economic independence and political freedom.
Africans in the united Guiana colonies of Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo regained their freedom on the 1st August 1838 after two hundred years of enslavement. Emancipation on that day commemorates not only the bloody sacrifices of the Africans who struggled, suffered and were slaughtered for the sake of the freedom we all enjoy today but also the birth of the nation itself. The entire Guyanese nation should participate in this public celebration.
Emancipation is Guyana’s most important national celebration. It marks the start of the most significant demographic change through the coming of the Portuguese, East Indians, West Africans and Chinese and the transformation of the coastal landscape through the creation of free villages and the diversification of the economy into the production of food crops, gold-mining and logging. It led, also, to the liberation of society through the popular movements for educational development, labour organisation and political mobilisation.
Emancipation celebrations in 2014 also commemorate the 251st anniversary of the Berbice Revolt of 1763 led by Kofi and the 191st anniversary of the Demerara Revolt of 1823 inspired by Kwamina. Guyanese of all races are the beneficiaries and heirs of the sacrifices of our nation’s first freedom fighters.
Emancipation, after all, was not a finite event that occurred 176 years ago. It was the commencement of a continuing process which must aim at providing a “good life to all Guyanese.”
Happy Emancipation!

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Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC)
The GTUC shares with the world and more so Guyanese the celebration of 1st August which 180 years ago brought an end to chattel slavery in the British Empire. Full emancipation came four years later after the slaves served a four-year period of amelioration (1838).
Freedom in its present form is a continuous process of education, putting in place systems, and safeguarding same in order that people and society can be rid of the shackles of that era in whatever form it appears today. One does not have to be physically enchained to be mentally enslaved. The mind is a powerful tool and weapon, and when it remains shackled to messages of non-achievements, worthlessness and inferiority, there is no need for physical chains to enslave, oppress and marginalise.
Our African ancestors were brought to the so-called New World against their wishes and through sweat, blood and tears – despite the whips raining down on their bodies – they contributed significantly in laying the foundation and topography for this land. They built a system of dikes and drainage canals, seawalls and road networks, constructed buildings and factories, laboured in the sugar and cotton estates, planted rice, fruits, ground provisions and other crops with their hands.
Our forebears fought against the oppressive system, with some giving their lives for the cause that led to chattel freedom, indentureship, internal self-government, independence and republican status. It is because of them we have a constitution of our own and laws to protect us from marginalisation and discrimination from any individual, group or system. They have fought the good fight for equality and dignity grounded in the belief that all men and women are capable of acting toward each other in a spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood. This ideal was institutionalised in the 1948 United Nations Human Rights Declaration.
In as much as there were exploitations and their labour was unpaid and undervalued, immediately after emancipation they set about ensuring a society that will have their meaningful participation. Through the cooperative economic model they pooled their moneys and bought villages that started the Village Movement and development of their communities, a system of local self-government, education, health and business ventures, coupled with the values for discipline and family structure with the needed mix of religion and entertainment. The African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child” was not only exemplified in the biological extended family but in the wider community, including the school, church and even on the streets. These foundations are still relevant today.
Even as society becomes more complex these values must not be lost on us. For it is out of and through them the sense of belongingness and fairness is shaped. As Guyanese, irrespective of our racial identity, association, sex, class or other experiences, the foundations laid by others are what we today walk on and must build on. Given that this nation has travelled the path of resistance against domination and oppression – through its various forms – it behooves us today as we commemorate another year of chattel freedom to rise up and re-commit to continue the journey started by our forebears for our inalienable right to equality and dignity.
1834 (Amelioration), 1838 (Emancipation) , 1905 (trade unionism), 1917 (end to indentureship), 1947 (universal adult suffrage), 1953 (internal self-government), 1966 (Independence) and 1970 (Republican status) are significant dates in this nation’s calendar, but these achievements can only have meaning when we not only work to deepen and strengthen the march for freedom, but we also resist the efforts and actions, in whatever form they appear, of those who seek to undermine and undo these achievements.
Lest we forget, freedom is not free; it requires eternal; vigilance, struggles and sacrifices to protect what has been achieved and ensure the enabling environment to realise civil, social, economic, cultural and political equality and dignity. Only then as a people all voices can truly ring out, “Free at last, Free at last, Thank God almighty we are free at last!” (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) The work began in 1834. It is not yet completed. But the dream still liveth and the hope must never die! There is still work to be done and as brave warriors we must put our shoulders to the wheel and march on….!

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Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU)

GAWU yet again joins in the national celebration marking the one hundred and seventy-sixth (176th) anniversary of the emancipation of the forefathers of our African Guyanese citizenry. This has become a joyful tradition and one which holds great significance for us.
Freedom from physical bondage which brought on unspeakable brutality and exploitation spawned by colonialism/capitalism was undoubtedly a step along the way to our independence, the breaking of the colonial relationship and the forging of a Guyanese nation.
It must be noted that freedom in 1838 was won and attained from the heroic and self-sacrificing struggles of the slaves. Today, we must not only embrace those struggles, but they should inspire us as a people to jealously guard our independence and our general sovereignty in times when renewed efforts are being, more and more, seen to re-establish colonial relations in various regions of the world.
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) recognizes the major contribution of the descendants of those freed African slaves in the continuous development of Guyana and in all areas of our country’s life – sport, culture, politics, security, foreign service. So many have received acclaim regionally and internationally too.
Not only our Afro-Guyanese citizens but, indeed, our country has come a far way in these 176 years. We overcame many hurdles, much of which has been rooted in the intrigues of the colonialists and their local collaborators. In our celebration, therefore, we should take pride in the progress made against all odds and let our achievements motivate us to reach yet greater heights and record achievements for our individual lives and in our society as a whole.
Though our times are serious and challenging, we can draw strength and heed the lessons from our forefathers – our hopes for a better life, society and world are realizable in our unity and principled struggles.
Happy Emancipation Day!
It is a day for Celebration of All Guyanese!

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Blue CAPS
As we commemorate the 176th Anniversary of freedom from slavery, Blue CAPS calls on all Guyanese to not only celebrate but also to contemplate the true meaning of emancipation.
Emancipation is the foundation of the freedoms and civil liberties we enjoy today as citizens of our nation. Our foreparents’ zeal and indomitable spirits ended a determined struggle against a vicious system that forced people into labour and denied them their basic human rights and dignity.
As we pay homage and exalt those who fought for our freedoms, we must remain resolute and guard our present day civil liberties from any attempt to curb and diminish them. Moreover, full liberation will only be achieved when there are changes in beliefs and attitudes from our people that lead to unity and equality across the dimensions of race and ethnicity, sex, socio-economic status and political lines.
As we reflect on the achievement of our foreparents today, let us be reminded that we are one people living in one nation tied to a single destiny.