Emancipation must be understood as more than a commemoration of slavery, with Minister of Public Utilities Barry Padarath calling on citizens to embrace unity, cultural pride and freedom from “mental slavery”.
Speaking at the Office of the Prime Minister’s African Emancipation Day celebration on Thursday, Minister Padarath said Emancipation today extends beyond cultural displays and historical remembrance and requires citizens to learn from the struggles endured by African ancestors.
He noted that the lessons of slavery and resilience remain relevant in modern society.
“That part of Emancipation is not just about the cultural artefacts and wearing the clothing and recalling the history of slavery, but it speaks to the issue of learning from the trials and tribulations that our African brothers and sisters endured. And therefore, by that true example of unity in diversity, therefore I can say by her own example and by the example of so many of our brothers and sisters of the African community here in Trinidad and Tobago, that we have been exemplars and we must continue to be exemplars for what it means to be emancipated and to emancipate ourselves from that mental slavery.”
Minister of Culture and Community Development Michelle Benjamin said Emancipation should not be viewed as the story of a single community but as part of the national identity of Trinidad and Tobago.
“This event was called to your order. With the dignity that this day demands, we are doing this event in your great presence. That decision says to every citizen that the story of African freedom is not a story of one community fighting or standing alone. Brothers and sisters, African brothers and sisters, it is a story of Trinidad and Tobago itself, togetherness, one citizen, one country, one dream.”