Prescod links low Emancipation Day turnout to lack of historical consciousness

Disappointed by the low turnout at this year’s Emancipation Day celebrations, Minister of Pan-African Affairs and Heritage Trevor Prescod called on Barbadians to reclaim their history through collective action and announced new educational initiatives centred on reparations and Black studies.

Addressing a modest gathering at this year’s Emancipation Day celebrations at Haggatt Hall, Prescod said emancipation should be viewed as an ongoing struggle rather than a single historical event. He urged citizens to safeguard the freedoms won through generations of resistance.

“Freedom is not a fixed thing. If you don’t protect it, you lose it,” Prescod warned, drawing parallels to historical slave rebellions across the region. “The oppressors had to come to a decision on the 1st of August 1834… as a result of the forms of resistance that we put up as a people.”

Members of the Spiritual Baptist faith pray during the Emancipation Day celebration. (RR)

The observance included a procession to the Emancipation Statue, commonly known as the Bussa Statue, and brought together cultural groups, spiritual leaders and government officials. Among those participating were delegates from the Nyabinghi Order and Spiritual Baptist groups, as well as several local cultural troupes.

(From left) Minister of Agriculture Dr Shantal Munro-Knight, Minister of Pan-African Affairs and Heritage Trevor Prescod and Minister of Education Transformation Chad Blackman. (RR)

Minister of Educational Transformation Chad Blackman and Minister of Agriculture Dr Shantal Munro-Knight were also in attendance.

Minister Prescod also expressed disappointment with the level of attendance, saying it reflected a lack of historical awareness among some members of the public. He reminded those gathered of the hardships endured by their ancestors.

He announced a new scholarship programme offering free master’s degrees in Black studies and reparations. The initiative will be administered through the Ministry of Pan-African Affairs in partnership with The University of the West Indies and the University of Glasgow.

The minister also highlighted recent efforts aimed at cultural reclamation, including a Bob Marley tribute mass at St Barnabas Church and the recovery of a 300-pound plantation bell from St Joseph. He described both as important “transitory points” in raising national consciousness.

The event featured speeches, prayers, the laying of wreaths and the ringing of the historic bell by restoration specialist Shane Wiseman.

Reflecting on the significance of the day, Nyabinghi Order member Ras Martin stressed the need for continued advocacy on reparations and repatriation.

“Barbados was once thought of as hell on earth for the victims coming over from Africa,” Ras Martin said. “Over the years, Barbados was able to move from hell on earth to a paradise—but paradise for who? It is here that the reasoning on reparations and repatriation must be rooted. Freedom is not a fixed thing; if you don’t protect it, you lose it.”

The procession concluded with a vehicle and motorcycle tribute, a go-kart demonstration and a moment of silence at the monument in honour of the sacrifices of those who fought for freedom.