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Next Thursday is Emancipation Day, an important day for Saint Lucians, especially those of African descent. On this day, we commemorate the end of slavery. and the dawn of freedom from slavery.
In this year’s Emancipation Supplement, readers can learn how slavery profoundly affected Saint Lucia and the entire Caribbean. Our ancestors experienced great struggles before witnessing emancipation.
We urge Saint Lucians not to forget the hardships their forefathers faced in their struggle for freedom, a freedom built with their blood, sweat, tears and death, so that today we can embrace a life of freedom where we can now chart our own destiny, not based on the color of our skin, but on the content of our character and the legacy left to us by those who came before us.
August 1 holds special meaning for all Saint Lucians, no matter where they live now. It is a day to celebrate – a day to reflect on our origins and the path ahead. So as we strive for excellence in every field – sports, science, business, politics and governance – let us also remember the land from which we were born. Let us remember not only to protect it, but to leave it in as pristine a state as possible for our children – and future generations.
On August 1, 1838, a great event took place – the inhumane slavery system in the British Empire officially ended. From then on, our ancestors were freed from the cruel abuse of slave owners. However, 186 years after 1838, there is still a view in some circles that many of us are still mentally bound by the legacy of slavery. If this is true, we call on those who are mentally enslaved to break free of these mental shackles and live as free individuals.
The gap that exists between former slaveholding nations and those that were once slave settlements, such as St. Lucia, should not prevent us from marching shoulder to shoulder with the best nations of the world. As we celebrate, let us not forget the tenacity of the bandits and other freedom fighters who fought for freedom during the heyday of slavery. We admire their courage and dignity. Their sacrifices are passed down from generation to generation. These uprisings must be etched in our collective memory.
Furthermore, let us not forget that emancipation was not simply the result of a change of heart by slaveholders, but more importantly the unrelenting resistance of the slaves. So, as a nation, let us redouble our efforts to remove the stain of slavery and make emancipation a reality – a beacon of freedom, equality and justice for all Saint Lucians, regardless of race, ethnicity or culture.
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