The People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) joins the Guyanese people in celebrating the 181stAnniversary of the Emancipation of enslaved Africans. The Party regards this event as the most significant in the foundation of our nation and the formation of our society. It was the first step in our country’s long march towards social equality, economic independence and political freedom.

Africans in the united Guiana colonies of Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo regained their freedom on the 1st August 1838, after two hundred years of enslavement. Emancipation on that day commemorates not only the bloody sacrifices of the Africans who struggled, suffered and were slaughtered for the sake of the freedom we all enjoy today, but also the birth of the nation itself. The entire Guyanese nation should participate in this public celebration.

Emancipation is Guyana’s most important national celebration. It marks the start of the most significant demographic change through the coming of the Portuguese, East Indians, West Africans and Chinese and the transformation of the coastal landscape through the creation of free villages and the diversification of the economy into the production of food crops, gold-mining and logging. It led, also, to the liberation of society through the popular movements for educational development, labour organisation and political mobilisation.

Emancipation celebrations in 2019 also commemorate the 256th anniversary of the Berbice Revolt of 1763 led by Kofi and the 196th anniversary of the Demerara Revolt of 1823 inspired by Kwamina. Guyanese of all races are the beneficiaries and heirs of the sacrifices of our nation’s first freedom fighters. Emancipation, after all, was not a finite event that occurred 181 years ago. It was the commencement of a continuing process which must aim at providing a “good life to all Guyanese.”