Last Updated on August 1, 2022, 7:56 AM AST by Anthony Morris
On Emancipation day, August 1, 2022, The Premier of St Kitts and Nevis, Mark Brantley, took to his Facebook account to extend his greetings to the citizens and residents of St Kitts and Nevis of the occasion, which signifies the people’s liberation from slavery and the start of a new life for millions of people across the globe.
On Emancipation Day, Premier Brantley reminded the citizens about the upcoming General Elections, which will be held on Friday, August 5. He dubbed the day of General Elections as “Freedom Day.”
In his Facebook post, Premier Brantley encouraged the citizens of St Kitts and Nevis to vote “Overwhelmingly” for the One Movement Government of People’s Action Movement (PAM) and Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM).
In his Facebook post, Mark Brantley insisted the residents and citizens of St Kitts and Nevis vote for “their country, their children and their grandchildren.”
He added, “I am asking you to rescue us from the dangerous path on which our country has been placed.”
He also shared a photograph on his Facebook account with a message from the “leader of the Concerned Citizens Movement”, which also featured on the digital version of the “One Movement Manifesto” along with a Facebook post published by the official page of Concerned Citizens Movement on Sunday, July 31, 2022
Emancipation Day is a public holiday celebrated not only in St Kitts and Nevis but across the Caribbean. The first Monday in August links nations across the Caribbean, marking the end of centuries of oppression.
The slavery Abolition Act of 1833 enacted by the British Government marked the start of a new era. The enactment of this act freed over 800,000 enslaved people of African descent throughout the British Colonies. In 1985, Trinidad and Tobago became the first nation to memorialize the signing of the Slavery Abolition Act, creating a public holiday commemorating August 1, the day the legislation passed. This holiday was officially named the Emancipation Day. Other former colonies in the Commonwealth Caribbean followed suit, and soon, St. Kitts joined in.
Emancipation Day is marked with festivity and a feeling of respect. On neighbouring Nevis, a weekend of festivities leads up to the Monday holiday, while on St. Kitts, the mood is quiet and reflective. The occasion is followed by the closing ceremonies of the Culturama Festival, celebrated in Nevis.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
