Emancipation Day: Remember our forefathers’ achievements, struggles for a better Jamaica

August 1, 1834 marked a special day for Africans in British colonies as it was the day they received freedom from slavery. In Jamaica, the Emancipation Declaration was read from the steps of the Old Kings House in Spanish Town, St Catherine, the country’s capital at the time.

The bill for the abolition of slavery in the British colonies received the royal assent on August 28, 1838. It stated:

“Be it enacted, that all and every one of the persons who on the first day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty four, shall beholden in slavery within such British colony as aforesaid, shall, upon and from and after the said first day of August, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, become and be to all intents and purposes free and discharged from all manner of slavery, and shall be absolutely and forever manumitted.”

The passage of this bill in the British Parliament in England enabled approximately 311,000 enslaved Africans in Jamaica and hundreds of thousands more across the colonies, the freedom for which many of their predecessors had fought and died.

Emancipation Day was officially introduced as a public holiday in Jamaica in 1893. The ‘First of August’ celebrations, however, were discontinued in 1962, when Jamaica gained independence. It was replaced by Independence Day, then observed on the first Monday in August. Emancipation Day was re-instituted in 1997 by then Prime Minister PJ Patterson as a national holiday celebrated on August 1. Independence Day was also fixed at August 6. (Extracted)

Even though we were “free” the oppression continued unabated. To vote you had to own property .This disenfranchisement continued up until 1944 when Universal Adult Suffrage (the right of every one of age to vote) was achieved by the work and advocacy of the Right Honourable Norman Washington Manley. However, the first election under Adult suffrage the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) under Sir Alexander Bustamante, won.

Nothing much had changed for the black masses until after the 1955 General Elections when NW Manley got his first opportunity to usher some real social changes which continued until 1962. Even though, Manley again led the way for political independence while being Premier of Jamaica (1959-62) and could have easily became the first Prime Minister of independent Jamaica, by virtue of his faith and belief in the right of the Jamaican people to choose a leader to lead them into independence, he called a General Election and lost, thus Sir Alexander Bustamantes became our first Prime Minister.

By then, N.W, Manley had already built the National Stadium and Arena and the Palisadoes International Airport (now remained N.W. Manley International Airport). He was bitterly criticized for building the National Stadium (the opposition then under Sir Alexander called it a “white elephant” and that it was a waste of money), yet NW Manley never got the opportunity to raise the independence flag of Jamaica in that stadium on the stroke of 12 mid-night the morning of the 6th of August 1962 when the Union Jack was lowered for the last time in Jamaica in over 300 years.

We all now come to fully appreciate the National Stadium and airport as key institutions in our national development.

As we celebrate Emancipation day 2020, let us remember the achievement of our forefathers and their struggles for a better Jamaica. Let us also remember and honor the legacy of N.W Manley in building a better Jamaica and his stance for decency, democracy, integrity and opposition to the segregation of black people in South Africa and racism in America. In the words of the great African politician and revolutionary Samora Moisés Machel “Aluta Continua”; the struggle for economic independence and social advancement in Jamaica continues.

I wish you a great and memorable Emancipation Day, COVID-19 notwithstanding.

Dr Keste Miller is an attorney-at-law, native of Old Harbour Bay and member of the People’s National Party. Send feedback to editorial@oldharbournews.com.