President joins Emancipation celebration- urge residents to continue the fight for freedom

By Royan Abrams

President David Granger today joined residents of Ithaca in Region Five to celebrate Emancipation Day 2016.

The event was attended by Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, Region five Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal and other Government officials.

Delivering the feature address at the Ithaca Basketball Ground, West Coast Berbice (WCB) where the event was hosted, President Granger noted that Emancipation is being used to celebrate the freedom and free habitation for citizens in Guyana.

“Emancipation is not a gift, it is what people fought and died for, people struggle and today if you go to Georgetown you will see a monument for the people who died in 1823 in this very month” the Head of State noted.

He added that Emancipation is not something that happened 178 years ago but related that it is continuous.

“You have to continue working to keep yourself from being enslaved, keep yourself free; keep yourself focus on the objectives of your forefathers in building strong, nation” he told the gathering.

During the emancipation event, villagers were treated to a day of fun and excitement, along with free distribution of African dishes; compliments of the president.

Minister of Social Cohesion also presented sports equipment, hampers and bikes to residents in Ithaca West Coast Berbice.

Prior to his visit to Ithaca, the Head of State visited Plaisance on the East Coast of Demerara and Mahaica where he also took part in a number of Emancipation activities.

Emancipation marks the abolition of slavery in 1834, after which the villages started getting established.

Emancipation day also referred to as freedom day kicked off indentured labour, which attracted the Portuguese, Chinese and East Indians to Guyana.