Philipsburg:--- Several Members of Parliament including former Minister of Education and Culture Rhoda Arrindell did not attend the first ever Emancipation Day Celebration on Monday. It should be noted that the former Minister of Education and Culture Rhoda Arrindell was the one who spearheaded the draft law to make July 1 an official holiday. In addition, even though Parliament declared July 2 an official holiday, several stores on Front and Back street opened their doors for normal business, some said because the law has not yet been published, while the vendors at the Square showed up to work in huge numbers.
Besides the absence of several key elected officials, the ceremony and other activities were well organized even though the time to prepare for such activities was short.
The homily delivered by Father Terrence Rawlins at the church service made several of the elected officials uncomfortable as he outlined the true meaning of the abolition of slavery and the present conditions under which many persons are living and working. Rawlins said that in some countries people are boasting freedom but many of them removed the word slavery and replaced it with the word "employee". Some, he said might even say no not employees but hotel and hospitality workers. Father Rawlins said that slaves were denied their rights and freedom in the workplace and even though slavery was abolished some 149 years ago some employees need to have their union representatives behind them to demand that their rights be respected. One such person who would take up the mantle and march for workers rights is WITU President Claire Elshot, this person's name Rawlins said he sees it almost every day in the newspapers fighting for workers rights. He said Elshot must be known by every St. Maartener but she is a freedom fighters even up to this day. Rawlins said that many have given their lives to achieve freedom yet there are those that are oblivious to the fact as he pointed out the poor attendance of the church service. "The young people today do not care about what their ancestors did to achieve this day, the significance of this day is non-existent among them." Rawlins even quoted a statement made by the former Minister of Education Rhoda Arrindell who said July 1 (Emancipation Day) is an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of Emancipation, to appreciate those who fought for freedom and to understand ones history and heritage.
Rawlins said that July 1 is not only a day to celebrate but it's one to rest and reflect on the things the forefathers of this island did to achieve emancipation. He said while emancipation is now being celebrated there is no regard for the island's forefathers that have gone on to rest. As an example, he said that everyone should visit the cemeteries and look at its condition. "In those cemeteries there are people that did a greater good for St. Maarten but the cemeteries are not properly kept."
Rawlins said St. Maarten is blessed with the freedom to worship and to elect its own leaders, draft laws, and even the freedom to complain and criticize. He said the island's forefathers paid a huge price for what those living here today so easily take for granted. He said the time has come for St. Maarten to consider to what extent they are really free especially when there are elements that are threatening to derail the development of the island, with the level of violence, family breakdown, selfishness, and coarseness that permeates the society. People he said should cease to be prisoners of their own devices in order for them to be free because only then they can reap the fruits of freedom. The nation should also try to emancipate themselves from the shackles of violence, irresponsible behavior, selfishness, greed, and crime. Rawlins said while most people believe that slavery no longer exists it is very much alive since there are 27 million people living in bondage and there are many more slaves today than there were before.
Other speakers included the Minister of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture Silveria Jacobs who wore cultural garments and danced through Front Street as she led a group of dancers of Urmain Dormoy. Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams encouraged the people of St. Maarten to come out and celebrate Emancipation Day. President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell also lamented on the poor turnout but anticipated that the people will come out to witness what the government has put together for them later in the evening.
Governor drs. Eugene Holiday gave the keynote speech in front of the Court House where mostly dignitaries and the dancers participated in the planned activities.
At the Square, there were two women nicely painted by a specific group depicting One Tete Lokay and the Salt Pickers, the two later joined another group depicting the Freedom Fighters at the Salt Pickers Round-A-bout.
There were several displays including the coal pot, sugar cane, bananas, poultry and other things that were used during the earlier years. Alongside Pondfill Road from SZV to the Salt Pickers Round-A-Bout there were several vendors selling local delicacies.
Click here to view more photos of the Emancipation Day Celebration and Church Service.
Below is the speech given by Governor Eugene Holiday.
My Fellow Sint Maarteners,
Good Afternoon and Happy Emancipation Day.
I am immensely proud and pleased to stand before you today July 2, 2012, to share in and address you on this first observance of emancipation day as a National Public Holiday on Sint Maarten.
On July 1, 1863, the emancipation proclamation issued by Governor J.D. Crol, on behalf of His Majesty the King, went into effect abolishing slavery and declaring the affranchised population of Sint Maarten free persons.
With that proclamation an official end was brought to the slave system of forced labor, brutally imposed for over three centuries by white slave owners on black men and women merely because of a difference in color. With that proclamation an end was brought to a system which goes against the core of human nature, that is against the will of all men and women to be free.
My fellow Sint Maarteners, that proclamation marked the triumph of the indomitable will of the enslaved men and women of Sint Maarten to be free. A triumph which at the time echoed throughout our island's hill tops, valleys and bays, and forever redefined our collective destiny as a Sint Maarten people.
We the people of Sint Maarten have since realized major achievements, made possible by the concerted efforts, of many Sint Maarteners, the sons and daughters of former slaves and slave-owners. Achievements which are increasingly documented and recognized. Noticeably overlooked for recognition however, has been our defining moment of July 1 , 1863, the moment when the freedom of all the people living on Sint Maarten, was officially recognized. Today we can proudly say that we have corrected that omission.
Today one hundred and forty nine years later, the Parliament based on a proposal by the Government of Sint Maarten passed the National Ordinance declaring July 1, a National Public Holiday. As a son of this soil upon which my forefathers have toiled and as Governor of my beloved, our beloved Sint Maarten, I was deeply humbled to have the privilege to affix my signature, along with the respective ministers, towards the ratification of that historic National Ordinance. Paraphrasing the National Ordinance, in summary it stipulates:
Having Considered:
- That as of 1980 the call has increased to commemorate July 1, 1863, the day that slavery was abolished in Sint Maarten, because of its historic importance, its importance for the self-consciousness and the cultural turnaround that it has brought about;
- That it is therefore desirable to introduce an annual public holiday on July 1, called "Emancipation Day";
- That it is thereto necessary to amend a number of national ordinances;
- And, having heard the Council of Advice, with general consultation of the Parliament;
it is established that effective June 26,
Emancipation Day shall be celebrated annually on July 1, unless the day falls on a Sunday, in which case Emancipation Day will be celebrated on the first following workday."
We are, as a result, gathered here today, Monday, July 2, 2012 to observe Emancipation Day. As a result I hereby commend all who over the past years have called for, championed and advocated the commemoration of Emancipation Day.
My fellow Sint Maarteners, history – from the bible to books of contemporary times – contains the numerous struggles of the peoples of the world and of the subsequent triumphs over oppression and their respective commemorations. Those commemorations generally serve to draw from the lessons of the past and to build thereon for the future.
In that regard Sint Maarten should be no different. What then are our lessons from our collective past and how are we collectively building thereon for our future. That is a question for each of us individually and all of us collectively. In answering that question it is my hope that each of you will recognize and appreciate the immense courage, struggles and sacrifices of our ancestors who fought for the collective freedom we share today. It is my hope that you will draw from the immense personal strength of freedom fighters like One-Tété Lohkay and others like her. It is my hope that you, instead of focusing on our individual differences, will celebrate the victory of the struggle for freedom and equality of all. And finally, it is my hope that today as every Emancipation Day hereafter will be celebrated as the day when the people of Sint Maarten officially became one people. Yes as the day when the sons and daughters of the former slave-owners and slaves were no longer restricted by law, but instead were free to hold hands and move forward as one, united people.
My fellow Sint Maarteners, July 1, 1863, created the foundation for a unified and thus strong and resilient Sint Maarten people. It did so because it marked the triumph of Humanity on Sint Maarten, a triumph towards a more free, equal and just Sint Maarten for all its people. A triumph of humanity which must cherished and preserved by all with the same vigor and unrelenting courage as our forefathers. It is thus my conviction, grounded in my belief in the people of Sint Maarten, that today's first and future observances of Emancipation Day as a National Public Holiday, will function as a source of greater consciousness and understanding; and as a result help to foster greater togetherness as we continue to collectively pursue and perfect the protection of the rights and freedoms of all the people as stipulated in our constitution. I am thus confident that together we will, with the help of God, continue to take Sint Maarten, forward building a strong, stable, responsible and just society.
My Fellow Sint Maarteners, it is with that ideal for our Emancipation Day that I congratulate all of you on and wish you a most Happy Emancipation Day Celebration.
Thank you and God Bless you.