Emancipation and the Afro-Trinidadian

This, however, will not make very much difference in terms of what I am about to write, as Emancipation Day is an annual event.

I often wonder if Afro-Trinbagonians recognise that this day is the most significant public holiday / celebration on the national holiday calendar for people of African origin? I wonder why they do not attach more importance to this holiday.

I have come to the conclusion that Afro-Trinidadians coming out of slavery — either by ignorance, contempt for their race (including themselves), denial, an afro saxon mentality,

still have an inferiority complex.

While our journey started in Africa through the Middle Passage to the sugar estates where our forefathers were subjected to the most inhumane conditions in the history of mankind, I am not and never have been one who uses slavery as an excuse for the further development of myself or my family who, I must assure you, have not done badly under the circumstances.

Ever since the celebrations started 17 years ago, Mr Kambon and his team have continually been subjected to some of the most vicious attacks, both in the print and electronic media.

While our cherished freedom of the press provides us with that right — even the right to be wrong, we must remember that such rights requires that we must be responsible and accountable.

It is bad enough for the Non-African Trinbagonian groups to bash Mr Kambon and his team, accusing them inter alia of a dependency syndrome and attempting to convert Afro-Trinidadians into Africans — whatever that means.

They also accuse Afro-Trinis of not being consistent with their afro centric programmes after the annual celebrations. Some go further and ridicule and accuse them of pappy showing the black man.

What utter nonsense! What rubbish!

Day after day, during the period of these celebrations, we hear the voices of Afro-Trinidadians vilifying and condemning the Emancipation Committee.

It is one thing not to participate in or support the occasion, but for Afro-Trinidadians to condemn, criticise and join other anti-emancipation groups is in fact being guilty in my view, of an unpardonable offence, characterised by an unlimited degree of ignorance of our own history.

Invariably these Afro-Trinbagonian MBEs (Members of the Black Elite) and/or Afro-Saxons, unlike the other groups, not only refuse to be identified with the celebrations, but continue to speak disparagingly about this most significant event for Afro-Trinidadians on the national calendar.

This disgusting behaviour has gone so far, that one of the most successful Afro-Trinidadians chose to construct and ride on his own Fatel Razack on Indian Arrival Day, totally ignoring the fact that nobody on the original Fatel Razack looked like him, spoke like him or dressed like him.

What an embarrassment to himself and comic relief

for those he was trying to please.

Mr Kambon and his team are always accused of requesting too much — they too damn dependant on the Government — is the cry mostly from Afro-Trinidadians.

Again completely ignoring the indisputable fact that most of the other groups obtain tremendous individual donations from successful members / entrepreneurs of their communities, religious or otherwise,

who through their resourcefulness, culture, have been successful and have their own institutions for informing, educating and indoctrinating their own groups.

That is their right and no one should envy them, but how

can anyone ignore the indisputable fact of the tremendous contribution Afro-Trinidadians have made to our young nation — before and after Emancipation, before and after Independence — in agriculture, energy, medicine, education, sports, entertainment, culture, politics, or the judiciary. Afro-Trinidadians have not only paid our dues, but have assisted every other group on their road to success.

Our arrival we do not celebrate. We envy no one for celebrating theirs.

If Afro-Trinidadians do not or refuse to understand, recognise, appreciate and educate our children of the most significant event in our history, then we will continue like salt to be in every pot except our own. Christmas, Arrival Day, Eid, Divali — all significant events, but may I end by asking for whom?

We celebrate our Freedom not our Enslavement! Watch out my children.