– President Ali reaffirms, urges unity, denounces racial division
– honours the legacy of African-Guyanese resilience

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has reaffirmed his government’s unwavering commitment to inclusive development, declaring in his 2025 Emancipation Day message that “no Guyanese is excluded from our national development.”
The Head of State used the occasion to honour the enduring strength of African-Guyanese ancestors while calling for national unity and the rejection of divisive rhetoric.
“Today, we gather across Guyana to pay tribute to the courage, endurance, and unbreakable spirit of our African ancestors, men and women who, though subjected to the horrors of enslavement, never relinquished their dignity or humanity,” President Ali said while reflected on the brutal history of African enslavement and the indomitable spirit that overcame it.
He underscored the global condemnation of the Transatlantic slave trade as one of the “gravest crimes against humanity,” which inflicted deep scars but failed to extinguish the yearning for freedom.
That same yearning, he said, drove the post-emancipation struggle for self-determination, economic empowerment, and community-building, a legacy most powerfully reflected in the village movement.
“African-Guyanese did not merely seek freedom from bondage; they sought the power to define their own destinies and to ensure a better life for the generations to come,” the President noted.
Dr. Ali highlighted the major role of African-Guyanese in the evolution of the nation through contributions in education, entrepreneurship, governance, sports, and the arts. He called on all Guyanese to draw inspiration from their resilience and to work collectively towards a unified, just, and prosperous society.
In repudiation of racial and ethnic manipulation, the President cautioned, “Let us reject, with firm resolve, the efforts of those who seek to manipulate race and ethnicity for narrow and selfish ends. These efforts serve no one. They do not uplift communities—they only divide them. They do not solve problems; they deepen wounds. And they do not build a future, they attempt to chain us to a past we have struggled so hard to overcome.”
Instead, he urged citizens to recommit to the ideals of One Guyana, a society that values equity, justice, and shared opportunity.

“The true honour we can pay to our ancestors is not only in remembrance, but in action, by working every day to create a society rooted in respect, equality, and shared prosperity,” he declared.
The President reaffirmed his government’s pledge to ensure that every Guyanese, whether in the hinterland or on the coast, in villages or in urban centres, benefits from national development and economic progress.
“Let us celebrate the strength of our African-Guyanese sisters and brothers and draw inspiration from their struggles and achievements. May their legacy live on in the just and inclusive Guyana we are building together,” President Ali said.
Emancipation Day in Guyana is observed on August 1st and commemorates the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1834. The day is marked by cultural festivities, tributes, and community reflections nationwide.