As a child Emancipation Day was one of the greatest occasions celebrated, the sincerity of a humble people was seen; as great orders such as the Benevolent and Eunice Lodge (Odd Fellow and Household of Ruth) would turn out with great pride. This was during a time when social capital was in surplus and child dreamt of marching in 1st of August in the parade. My people, it is my intent to rekindle and awaken the community unity and preserve our heritage.
As we celebrate Emancipation Day, and reflect on the treacherous journey taken some 400 years ago by our ancestors, gratitude to our omnipresent God should be foremost. As first voyage with African slaves from West Africa changed the course of history and was one of the greatest atrocities in the past millennium. Mothers, fathers and children stolen, separated and worse of all stripped of an identity losing genealogical links. As we live a paradigm shift some of our neighbors have already begun bridging historical links with trade. Blood lines that have survived – the reconnection of Africa’s grandchildren. The hardships and suffering must never be forgotten as we pave the way forward for a better society. Resilience has brought us here today.
Sisters and brothers, the Turks and Caicos Islands can stand tall knowing that just steps away from the Emancipation Square, visions were being crafted for emancipation. Yes, as small as we are we played an instrumental role in the Parliament Act of 1807 that led the way for Emancipation. How, you may ask? Through the likes of Mary Prince, born in Bermuda and brought here as a slave; her fight for freedom and the first black woman to be published in Europe and work along-side the likes of Wilberforce. Her story is well documented and narrated through author Susannah Strickland and was published in 1831.
My people, freedom fighting is not new to the Turks and Caicos Islands; we often state that our history is rich but how willing are we to not only explore but embrace the discovery?
The challenges we may face today and, in the future, may not be as in the past, but they will require the same courage and tenacity as our ancestor before us. Today I encourage all of us to continue to pave the way, maintaining the legacy left by those who fought for us; and for those who will come after us.
My people, rejoice! Know that on this day as we sing not only negro spirituals and the traditional melodies such as ‘See my Doe-Doe Jump’ we pay homage to those that bore the pain and those that did not make it across the passage of no return from Africa to the Americas.
My Government’s establishment of the Faith and Religious Affairs Department will only strengthen activities such as this gathering but create products that will be both domestic and international as it will foster the framework for the enhancement of Heritage Trails. My, people our heritage believe it or not has influenced major events as the aforementioned. Let us continue to act in the best interest of humanity and preserve justice and I am comforted by these words from the Beatitudes, “Blessed are those who are prosecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.”
On behalf of Ministry of Tourism in general and the Department of Culture in particular, have a safe and enjoyable Emancipation Day!
