The United Force is delighted to join our brothers and sisters of African heritage and all Guyanese in celebrating “FREEDOM DAY”. No one knows it better than our African brothers and sisters the world over, who have been affected by the degradation and cruelty of slavery, how precious freedom is.

Our ancestors were born in an era when slavery was the norm of society but with the African Slave Trade slavery really began to take on a most sinister edge by the sheer magnitude and cruelty of the Europeans who profited hugely from this diabolical scheme of theirs.

In 1807, the slave trade was abolished, by act of parliament, in the British Empire but slave emancipation in the British colonies did not occur until 1834. While in Antigua, emancipation was effective immediately, elsewhere there was a two year gap, and slaves were not freed across the empire until 1836.In Guyana, only in 1838 was emancipation totally effected.

But through all the cruelty and degradation we must remember with pride the strength, endurance and the pride of a people who lifted themselves out of that darkness and went on to be land owners, community leaders, business men and women; building villages and homes for their descendants. Us, their descendants who today are doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, diplomats and presidents to name a few – all highly educated and brilliant people. If our ancestors were alive today this is what they would have been proud of, but we must rest assured that although they have gone to rest they can still feel the pride and joy in our hearts and voices; that they can feel our great love for them along with our eternal gratitude to them for fighting for the very freedom we enjoy today.

And even as we conclude our celebration and observances it is only fitting that we remember that slavery in all its forms is cruel and degrading and must be rooted out from every society. We must not forget to spare a prayer for those who are today still slaves; sex slaves, child slaves and others who are even now being trafficked to become slaves of some sort.
But today let us celebrate our ancestors and our freedom. HAPPY FREEDOM DAY TO ALL GUYANESE!