Bahamas Observing 200th Anniversary of Abolition of Slave Trade:
By Candia Dames -
Nassau, Bahamas:

Acknowledging the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade involves an affirmation of human rights, Education Minister Alfred Sears declared on Sunday as he and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell announced activities commemorating that moment in Bahamian history.

"This is an occasion for all racial groups in the Bahamas because slavery was a crime against humanity," said Minister Sears at a press conference at the Fox Hill Parade in eastern New Providence.

"It was a violation of human rights. It’s not a question of one race versus the other. It is a question of all of us coming together and affirming the humanity of African people. It was a struggle that involved people of difference races [who] felt that the economic institution of slavery was immoral and we’re standing, affirming the humanity of people who for 400 years had their humanity denied.

"And it took 200 years before the international community would publicly acknowledge and declare that the inhumanity practiced against Africans was a crime against humanity.

We’re asking all Bahamians of every ethnic background to come together in an affirmation of human rights."

Minister Mitchell, who is also the member of parliament for Fox Hill, said the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade is central to the development of the Bahamas and its culture.

"It is only fitting then that we remember those who perished in the middle passage, and recall how we got to where we are today," he said.

Minister Mitchell also said, "This is marking our heritage, our history, and an opportunity for our people to understand why and how it is we got to where we are, and those people who fought for our humanity as a people…we must never forget and we say forward ever, backward never."

He pointed out that plans to observe the anniversary are in compliance with a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly on November 28, 2006 at its 59th plenary meeting to observe March 25, 2007 as the International Day for the Commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Minister Mitchell said the reason March 25 was chosen is that it marked the date when 200 years ago the British Parliament passed an act abolishing the legality of the transportation for commercial reasons of human beings from Africa to the Americas to work as slaves.

"Millions of people died in the passage to the Americas over the centuries of this practice which has been described as a crime against humanity," he said.

Minister Mitchell pointed out that Dr. Gail Saunders and other historians have noted that the Bahamas was directly impacted by the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. Dr. Saunders noted that some 1,400 liberated Africans were sent to the Bahamas after the ships they were in were captured by the Royal Navy between 1808 and 1840.

Fox Hill, Dr. Saunders noted, was one of eight free black villages or settlements outside Nassau.
Minister Mitchell also pointed to Dr. Nicolette Bethel, the director of culture, who noted that one of the reasons for the survival of Junkanoo in its present form was the landing of Africans liberated by the British from French, American, Spanish and Portuguese slave ships during the mid 19th century.

"These brought with them their customs, and revitalized the Christmas parades, just as they seemed about to be overtaken by the marching brass bands rather than gangs of goombay drums and cowbells," Dr. Bethel wrote.

There are a number of events marking the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade.
There is expected to be a communication to parliament today and a minute of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the middle passage. A press and diplomatic reception is also scheduled to take place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nassau this evening.

At 11:30am today, Ministers Mitchell and Sears are scheduled to appear on Love 97’s "Issues of the Day" with Wendall Jones. They are scheduled to appear on "Real Talk" on More 94.9 FM with Jeff Lloyd at 10am Wednesday.

On Friday, the Ministry of Education will launch the Learning Channel at Choices restaurant at the School of Hospitality at the College of the Bahamas at 9am. At 10am at the same venue, Dr. Gail Saunders and Dr. Thaddeus McDonald will lead a panel discussion.

At 1pm, an official luncheon with the Minister of Education of South Africa Naledi Pandor as the guest speaker is scheduled for the British Colonial Hilton Hotel. At 6:30pm, George Lamming, a distinguished Caribbean writer and intellectual, will give a lecture at the Hilton.

On Saturday at noon, vendors will set up at the Fox Hill Parade for a daylong observation. At 3pm, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force will lead a parade of community leaders from Adderley Street to the Fox Hill Parade.

A cultural show is expected to take place at the site. The day will end with performances beginning at 9pm by Visage with K.B., Terez, Elon Moxey and Gino D.


26 March 2007