The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport presented cheques amounting to Gy$8.125M to 89 African cultural groups to assist them to effectively carry out their various activities for Emancipation celebrations.

Prior to the handing over of the cheques to the groups, a Libation ceremony was held in recognition of the contributions made by our ancestors.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony, pointed out that as Guyanese celebrate another Emancipation anniversary, they reflect on the country’s history.

He recalled that the village of Buxton on the East Coast of Demerara was named after Thomas Buxton, who had advocated the Emancipation Acts of 1833 in the British House of Commons.

“When we think about sacrifice, when we think about what people had to endure, the conditions under which they were living, I think that it is important that we read some of the documents of that time…when we talk about slavery as a people we must understand the horrific system it was,” he stated.

While highlighting some of the difficulties the slaves endured on the sugar plantations, the Minister said that “we need to understand the difficulties of slavery so that when we talk about it we must understand what a horrific system it was…it’s not just about understanding, it’s about knowing that we don’t have things like these being repeated anywhere in the world because it’s about dehumanising us, and we must use these bad examples to make sure they never recur,” Minister Anthony emphasized.

He added that one of the things that persons must understand around the Caribbean is that there has been a call for reparations and there is a Caribbean Commission that has been established and has been working to talk to the colonial powers of the past and present.

Since 2005, Government has been supporting Emancipation activities, starting with just three groups, and has been encouraging persons from various backgrounds to become involved in preserving their cultural activities.

Emancipation day is marked as an important day, not only in the Guyanese calendar, but also the global perspective. The inhumane system of slavery was abolished on August 1, 1834 in all British colonies including British Guiana-now Guyana.

http://culture.mcys.gov.gy/mcys-supports-african-groups-with-funds-for-emancipation-celebrations-2/