Trinidad and Tobago's Emancipation Day

Trinidad and Tobago's Emancipation Day is celebrated to mark the end of slavery for Africans in the British Caribbean on August 1, 1838, and has been observed as a national holiday in Trinidad and Tobago since 1985, while Jamaica attained independence from Great Britain in 1962.

On August 1, 1985, Trinidad and Tobago became the first country in the world to declare a national holiday to commemorate the abolition of slavery.

http://www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/forum/webbbs_config.pl/noframes/read/1171

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Day

Emancipation Day is celebrated in many former British colonies in the Caribbean and areas of the United States on various dates in observance of the emancipation of slaves of African origin. It is also observed in other areas in regard to the abolition of serfdom or other forms of servitude.





Welcome to Breaking News Trinidad and Tobago
Wednesday, August 01 2012 @ 07:02 AM AST
Minister Peters' Emancipation Day address

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The following is the address delivered by the Honourable Winston 'Gypsy' Peters, Minister of Community Development at the Ministry's Emancipation Day celebrations at its Head Office on Jerningham Avenue, Belmont on Monday July 30, 2012.

All protocols observed.

A very pleasant good afternoon and I hope you have enjoyed the programme so far. This Emancipation Celebration commemorates 178 years since the Emancipation Proclamation was read on steps of the Treasury Building right here in Port of Spain.
And today at the Ministry of Community Development, we celebrate that historic event which brought an end to our African ancestors being treated as property.

In the 21st Century it may be hard for us to imagine that humans, our own ancestors were bought and sold as property, forced to provide free labour, held against their will and deprived of all human rights.
And it is for those reasons – underscored by the long and bitter struggle for the liberation of these ancestors – that this celebration bears much significance.
I must extend my thanks to the Planning Committee for putting together this important commemoration highlighted by the performances of the Tongalani Durmmers and Zakiya Gill. And we are pleased to have been educated by the very learned Brother Apechoe Mutope. Can we give them a round of applause please?

Let me add by saying, Emancipation Day does not only celebrate Liberation; it is also an occasion for revival - an occasion where each and every one of us renew our conviction to lead purposeful lives and chart a common future. And therefore, today we celebrate self-determination.
This celebration of Emancipation Day as an event was officially introduced to the world in 1985 by our nationals of Trinidad and Tobago spearheaded by NJAC and Makandal Daaga. The official recognition of this day then led to a wave of Emancipation commemoration in Jamaica, Guyana, Turks and Caicos and even as far off as Ghana.

Trinidad and Tobago has led the way among people of African ancestry rekindling their pride in the hard-fought struggle for economic, spiritual and psychological liberation wherever they might be in the world.
As we mark this August celebration, we must also remember that throughout this month we also celebrate our nation’s 50th year as an independent nation. The contributions of the descendants of Africans, along with myriad of people who have settled in our islands, have built a strong, resilient nation, embracing all of its peoples.

So once again I thank you for your participation in today’s celebration and may we all use Wednesday August 1st as a day of reflection as we move onward towards the quest of even greater tomorrows.

Let us constantly emphasize to the children of the Africans in Trinidad and Tobago that it was the positive struggle by our fore-parents that brought us success as a people.
And it was neglect and abandonment of that struggle by succeeding generations that brought us to where we are today.
And it is only re-connection with that positive history of struggle that will see the rise of the African once again.

Thank you. May God continue to bless us all and may God bless our nation.

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CREDITS: Photo courtesy the Ministry's Communications Unit

I have nothing but love for T&T. To all the Trinis out there and Trini lovers, let the steel plans play and enjoy the sweet soca music.

Happy Emancipation Day!

http://www.panafricanfestival.org/


Welcome to Emancipation Support Committee



The Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago is an African organization, which for the last 20 years, has been commemorating Emancipation with public lectures, trade shows, concerts and processions.
Without a doubt, the commemoration of Emancipation in 2012 marks a significant milestone in the celebrations which contribute positively to the country’s international image. Not only is it our 20th anniversary but it is also the 50th anniversary of the independence of Trinidad and Tobago. Our goals today and in the future extend beyond building pride and image enhancement

I just came back from Port of Spain a few weeks ago and I enjoyed my time in T&T.

Happy Emancipation Day Trinidad And Tobago. Beautiful people and nice culture... Love you guys ermmm(Caribbean ladies) only

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PM announces: T&T, Nigeria to collaborate on energy projects

Nigerian President Dr Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan waves to the crowd at the beginning of the Emancipation procession on Independence Square, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. Dr Jonathan was accompanied by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, right, and chairman of the Emancipation Support Committee, Khafra Kambon, left. PHOTO: NICOLE DRAYTON


http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-08-02/pm-announces-tt-nigeria-collaborate-energy-projects



'Promised land for the black man'

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/_Promised_land_for_the_black_man_-164690996.html