Manning: Emancipation struggle set human rights benchmark

Prime Minister Patrick Manning has stated, in an Eman-cipation statement yesterday, that although Emancipation is being celebrated, there still exists many dimensions in which people remain unfree worldwide. “Child labour, gender and race prejudice and discrimination, violence and abuse of defenseless people, poverty, unemployment and criminal activity all result from our failure to recognise that individual and group advancement is best realised within a framework of appreciation and respect for all rights,” he said. Manning stated that in TT we are fortunate to have “significantly” overcome some of these challenges and that today we are in a better position to shape the freedom and liberty we seek and strive after. He said that this can only be achieved by permitting ourselves to draw from the experiences and heritage of all people.

He said that although Emancipation emerged out of the struggle of the African community, it is of global importance, and relates to all humanity. “Lest we forget, the Emancipation struggle in the Caribbean set a benchmark for human rights and natural justice everywhere,” he stated. He said that if we, as a people, draw instruction and inspiration from the fact that Emancipation has laid down new standards for the condition of human existence, the annual celebrations will “more than” fundamentally relate to all. “It might be that it is still truly a long road to freedom, but we shall get that much closer by freeing our minds to support and appreciate our cultures and experiences on the way forward,” Manning said.