International Day of Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
GUYANA on Friday joined in observing the United Nations International Day of Remembrance of Victims of the Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Following is the message for 2011 from the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, read at a special cultural commemoration programme, hosted by the Museum of African Heritage, Bel Air, Georgetown: “The transatlantic slave trade inflicted immense suffering on millions of innocent victims for four centuries, making it among the longest, most widespread tragedies in human history. While legalised slavery has long been abolished, slavery-like practices are very much with us — from debt bondage and domestic servitude, to forced or early marriages, the sale of wives and trafficking in children.
“Extensive scholarship has documented these horrors, including through various efforts of UNESCO. Yet there remains much more to learn about the millions of Africans who were uprooted and abused, about the misery visited on their descendants, and about the impact that is felt, even today. That is why the theme of this year’s observance of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, is “The Living Legacy of 30 Million Untold Stories”.
“By studying slavery, we help to guard against humanity’s most vile impulses. By examining the prevailing assumptions and beliefs that allowed the practice to flourish, we raise awareness about the continued dangers of racism and hatred. And by honouring slavery’s victims — as we do with this International Day, with a permanent memorial that will be established at the UN Headquarters complex in New York, and with the observance of 2011 as the International Year for People of African Descent — we restore some measure of dignity to those who had been so mercilessly stripped of it.
“This observance forces us to confront human beings at their worst. But in those who opposed slavery then and now, we also celebrate people at their best: the brave slaves who rose up despite mortal risk; the abolitionists who challenged the status quo; the activists today who fight intolerance and injustice. Whether renowned or unsung, these heroes show that the pursuit of human dignity is the most powerful force of all.
On this Day, let us draw inspiration from that truth. Let us remember all the victims of the transatlantic slave trade and of contemporary forms of slavery. And let us commit ourselves to eradicate such practices once and for all.
The Secretary-General’s message was read to the gathering by executive member of the Museum of African Heritage, Ms. Jenny Daly.
Other highlights of the programme were presentations by historians Ms. Hazel Woolford on ‘The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade’, and Mr. Tommy Payne on ’The Victims of Slavery’, followed by open discussions on the topics.
The programme also included African drumming by the Hebrew Family and an African dance by a troupe from the National Dance Company. 

Among the gathering were Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds; Professor James Rose and Dr. Michael Scott, Deane of the University of Guyana’s Faculty of Social Sciences (both representatives of the National Committee for ‘Year of the People of African Descent’) and others.

The Museum of African Heritage is a non-profit institution created by the Government of Guyana to collect, preserve, exhibit and research arts and artifacts relating to Africa and the African experience in Guyana. It is also mandated with disseminating this knowledge through its outreach programme.

The Museum of Arts and Ethnology was founded in 1985, with the purchase of collections of African art from Anthropologist Hubert Nicholson. It was officially declared open on July 31, 1994, by former President, Mrs. Janet Jagan.