THE countdown to Emancipation 2013 is on, and Berbicians are today holding a packed programme of activities in observance of the 250th Anniversary of the Berbice Slave Rebellion and the 175th Anniversary of Emancipation.

All roads lead today to the popular Mark’s Bridge in Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, where thousands of jubilant Berbicians bedecked in African attire are expected to converge for a tumultuous parade which kicks off through the streets of New Amsterdam at 14:00 hrs; and come hell or high water, there will be an explosion of  rhythmic African drumming, dancing, and singing at the gong of the hour, energizing the crowd into a frenzy as they wend their way flouncing towards the lawns of State House on Esplanade Road for a grand welcoming ceremony and cultural presentation.
Highlight of this afternoon’s festive activities would be the opening ceremony of the New Amsterdam 2013 African Emancipation Commemoration, organized by the 2010-founded US-based Council of Friends of New Amsterdam (COFONA), and slated to run from today to August 11.
President Donald Ramotar is expected to be present at this opening ceremony.
Founder-President of COFONA, Dr. Leonard Lewis, is heading a large group of US-based Berbician friends and supporters, now working alongside local Berbicians to make the programme a resounding success.
The opening ceremony is to be followed by a 09:00hrs international conference on Monday, being held under the theme: “From Resistance, Through Emancipation, Towards Empowerment.” Sessional Chair will be Dr. Leonard Lewis, and presenters will include Dr. Alvin Thompson, Professor Emeritus at the University of the West Indies, who will speak on “Captive Africans: Experiences in Guyana and Beyond”, as well as “Tourism in New Amsterdam: The Story of Winkel”. There will also be a panel discussion on “Tourism in New Amsterdam: New Possibilities”.
Guyanese scholar Dr. Ewart Thomas, Dean of the School of Humanities at the University of Stanford in the USA, will also be among the distinguished speakers.
On Tuesday, Mr. Alvin Thompson, Ms. Esther Stanford-Xosei, and Ms. Paulette Henry will be among the speakers and panellists focusing on such topics as “Slavery’s Psychological Impact: Modern Day Manifestations”, and “The Question of Reparations”.  Each presentation will have a question-and-answer session.
On Wednesday, there will be other interesting topics discussed, such as: “Preserving and Promoting Afro-Guyanese Cultural Legacies”, with panellists being Ms. Jenny Daly, Mr. Leon Saul and Ms. Shaundel Phillips.  Sessional Chairman will be Col. (Ret’d) George Gomes. There will also be cultural workshops on “Qweh-Qweh and African Drumming”.
Beginning at 9.00pm that evening and going through to 1.00 am on Thursday, there will be a Candlelight Vigil and Libation Ceremony at the All Saints’ Scots Presbyterian Church on Princess Elizabeth Road, the symbolic activity ushering in the glorious “Dawn of Emancipation” on Thursday, August 1, 2013.
From 6.00am to 10.00am on Thursday, August 1, there will be the ‘Sunrise Morning Service’ at the Mission Chapel Congregational Church in New Amsterdam; then at 1.00pm, there will be the grand and much-anticipated ‘Emancipation Day Celebrations’ at the All Saints Scots Presbyterian Church Ground. Festivities will last throughout the day, culminating in a fireworks display at 8.00 pm.
On Friday, August 2, the Berbice High School Auditorium will be the venue for the Mission Chapel Congregational Church’s Annual Concert, beginning at 6.00pm and lasting until 9.00pm.
The curtain will come down on activities for that week with  representatives of the Council of Friends of New Amsterdam (COFONA) joining the people of Buxton, East Coast Demerara for a “Buxton Symposium: Emancipation Celebration at Buxton” from 9:00 to 11:00 hrs; which will be followed by a ‘Heritage Ball’ at Metro Hall in Buxton from 8.00pm on Saturday to 4.00am on Sunday, August 4, 2013.