Emancipation Day most socially cohesive event in Guyanese history - Pres. Granger

Emancipation Day most socially cohesive event in Guyanese history – Pres. Granger

Aug 01, 2016 News

In the eyes of President David Granger, Emancipation Day is perhaps the most cohesive event in the entire Guyanese history.
The Head of State made this remark during a taping of the Government show, “The Public Interest.”
Being the historian that he is, Granger related that the emancipation of Africans was most of all, the reason why other ethnic groups were brought to Guyana.
In this regard, he said, “…Freedom Day really was the birthday of Guyana and that is the day which more or less caused all the other groups apart from the Europeans and the Amerindians, to come to Guyana …I would say that is our real national day and I know Afro-Guyanese feel that it is a special day for them and indeed it is, but it is also a special day for the East Indians, Chinese, and Portuguese who came to work on the plantation…”
The President reiterated that Emancipation is perhaps, “The most significant, socially cohesive event in the entire Guyanese history” and went further to state that it is the foundation of the nation.
Additionally, the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) is in strong support of the sentiments expressed by the Head of State.
In fact, the Association related that it is celebrating its 24th Anniversary this year and will also be hosting its 23rd Emancipation Day Festival at the National Park today.
This is ACDA’s second Emancipation during the International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD) which began in January, 2015 and will end on 31st December 2024.
Patrons will be treated to performances from the nation’s best local acts such as Natural Black, Lisa Punch, Shelly G etc. International recording artist Luciano Messenjah and his Band along with Esther from Nigeria will also be there.
There will be traditional African dishes, folk games, a children fun center, parades, face painting, konkee and pone eating contests, domino competitions, fashion displays, exhibition booths, drumming, dancing, singing, and lots of educational as well as fun exhibits.
Furthermore, ACDA’s theme for Emancipation 2016 is “Celebrating African Guyanese achievements in the year of our golden jubilee” while the sub-theme is, “Building Strong Families through Entrepreneurship.”
According to the Association, these themes are chosen in recognition of the importance of youth knowing their history and the legacy of their ancestors and the need to build Guyanese families with economic strength.
Traditionally, ACDA honours an African country every Emancipation Festival by building an educational booth for that country. However this year, the focus will be put squarely on
Guyana, in keeping with the Jubilee celebrations.
Also, for Emancipation 2016, ACDA will honour the village of Bara Cara in Berbice. Bara Cara, a small village along the banks of the Canje River in Berbice, has at its roots, a history passed down in the folklore of its residents over the years which points to it being a community that originated as a refuge for Guyanese Maroons or runaway slaves.
This community is now poised to transition into a local government area governed by a Neighbourhood Democratic Council, a project that is currently being undertaken by the Ministry of Communities.

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