THE Essequibo African Association [EAA] has released its programme of activities for Emancipation celebrations this year.

According to a press release, the programme will start off on 16th July with a quiz for primary school children [grades 5 and 6] at the African Culture and Education Association (ACEA) building in Henrietta Housing Scheme.
The release said the programme will continue with an essay writing competition for secondary school students on 23rd July while on the 24th a clean-up campaign will be conducted.
The association said that on July 30th an African dance will be held at the Anna Regina Multilateral School at 18:00 hours while the judging of a Best Village competition will held on 30th July.
On July 31st a candlelight parade will be held from Damon Cross at La Belle Alliance to the Anna Regina car park where the Damon monument is located.
Scores of persons are expected to march with lighted candles/bottle lamps along the public road to Anna Regina from 20:30 hours. The members of the Essequibo African Association are expected to be accompanied by African drumming during the candlelight parade.
A number of prominent citizens will deliver addresses during a cultural show on the tarmac of the Anna Regina car park. At midnight a Libation ceremony will be held around the Damon’s Monument to usher in Emancipation Day, 1st August.
On Emancipation Day a church service will be held at the ACEA building from 8:00 am and at 10:30 hours senior citizens will be served with lunch from 10:00 hours to 13:00 hours at the Queenstown community center.
The association will also hold an Emancipation Fair at Damon’s Square, Anna Regina from 16:00 hours.
And on 2nd August a concert would be held at the Queenstown Community Center while a fun-day will be held on the 3rd.The celebrations will continue on 11th with a Damon road race from Capoey to La Belle Alliance. A wreath laying is scheduled for Damon’s Square on the same day as well as a camp fire and bar-b-que at West Bury Square.
The celebrations will move to Dartmouth on the 12th August where a cultural evening will be held at the 8th May Secondary School.
The release added that on the 13th, an African Day Symposium will be held at the school, and there will be a lunch for senior citizens on the 15th at the Flora Nursery School from 11:00 hours. And bringing the curtains down on the 16th August will be the Miss Dartmouth Pageant at the 8th May Secondary School from 8:00 hours.

(By Rajendra Prabhulall)