By Sue-Ann Wayow

AFRICAN Emancipation Day is not only a remembrance of suffering overcome, but a celebration of what has been built.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar extended greetings to citizens as Trinidad and Tobago reflects on one of the most profound and defining milestones in  national and global history on Friday.

July 31, 2025 marks the 187th anniversary of African Emancipation Day in this country.

The holiday is celebrated on different dates in other parts of the world.

In 1985, Trinidad and Tobago became the first nation to declare African Emancipation Day a public holiday.

The bold and visionary step inspired countries such as Jamaica, Barbados, Suriname, Belize, the British Virgin Islands, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Canada, South Africa, and several US states to follow suit.

Persad-Bissessar said, “Stripped of liberty and dignity, they (slaves) were unimaginably brutalised and denied basic human rights. Yet, through faith, strength, and collective will, they rose against injustice and reaffirmed their rightful dignity as human beings, laying the moral foundation for the freedoms we enjoy today.

“African Emancipation Day is not only a remembrance of suffering overcome, but a celebration of what has been built. The contributions of African descendants continue to shape our society, from national festivals and cultural expressions to academic, political, and global leadership.

“Emancipation is not confined to history—it is a living call to justice, dignity, and inclusion. As we honour our ancestors, let us also uplift those still striving for recognition and opportunity.”

Persad-Bissessar quoted from Dr Martin Luther King, Jr saying“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, (but) we shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

She ending her message with, “Let freedom forever ring, and let us always aspire, as a people, to move forward as a nation in unity, purpose, and pride. May God always bless our nation.”