Three Weeks to Go till Emancipation Day Celebrations 

The Government of Saint Lucia has announced that this year’s Emancipation Day celebrations will be none like before.  

During the virtual launch of the activities, a history lesson was offered to remind Saint Lucians of its ancestry and what emancipation means. From the time of the Amerindian settlements when the French, Dutch, British and Spanish influencers covered the Caribbean to the British and French fighting seven times over this island, the country has been emancipated since slavery was abolished in 1865 however, the country gained full independence from the British in 1979, more than 100 years later. 

This year’s celebration’s theme “Enkindling our Consciousness” is about recognizing our past as we are reminded of the victory of our ancestors and to encourage input to rebuilding a new society as Saint Lucia progresses as a nation.  

Activities will include 

• June – July – Travelling community and schools’ education drive 
• 1^st June – 23^rd July, 9am-4pm – Student exchange, University of Hopkins, Virtual 
• 31^st July, 8am – Breadfruit and breadnut festival, Holy Trinity Anglican Church 
• 31^st July, 4pm – Unveiling of Emancipation Hero, Dennery Village 
• 1^st August, 4am – Live drum and dance rituals, Castries Waterfront 
• 1^st August, 10am – Lecture – Hon. Dr. June Soomer, UN Permanent Forum, Virtual 
• 1^st August, 10am – Lecture – Sir Hilary Beckles, Virtual 
• 1^st August, 5pm – Freedom Concert, Soufriere Stadium 
• 4^th – 7^th August, 9am – Symposium and Poetry Slam, National Cultural Centre 
• 6^th, 13^th, 27^th August, 6:30am – Secrets of the mountain (A series of hikes to Mount Gimie) 
• 7^th August – 31^st August, 10am – 5pm, Archeological Society exhibition, Vieux Fort 
• 10^th August, 10am – Laborie Historical Project, Velon John Administrative Centre 
• 11^th August, 8pm – Youth podcast, Virtual 
• 18^th August, 8pm – Panel discussion, NTN Studios 
• 25^th August, 7pm – Mama La Vie documentary, National Cultural Centre 
• 30^th August, 9am – La Woz Festival, Constitution Park 

For more information, visit CDFStLucia.org 

Photo by- Cultural Development Foundation