Rev. Julian Clarke of the Anglican Church was elated when he got the call to be the main speaker at a historic ceremony to mark Emancipation at the Sunday Morning Well, off Fishlock Road in Road Town .

For the Reverend, it was the first time that he joined dozens for the Freedom March which has become an annual feature of the August month activities.

Tramping to the music of the Dominion and Genesis bands in heavy rain, the march made its way from Government House on Water Front Drive before finishing at the Sunday Morning Well, where on August 1, 1834, the Proclamation was read to free 5,133 VI slaves.

However, the site continues to face daily abuse, according to Fourth District Representative, Dr. Vincent Scatliffe, who grew up a stone throw away from the historic site.

“This site is a significant historical value and importance to our celebration as a result we must treat it as a national shrine symbolising our freedom from slavery,” Dr. Scatliffe told members of the crowd who huddled under umbrellas and sought shelter at nearby buildings.

“I cannot help but express the profound sadness of the abuse of this very site that should be embracing historic remembrance and exuberance that foster a sense of national pride and consciousness,” he said.

Dr. Scatliffe noted that the abuse is evident in the transaction of illegal drugs, washing of vehicles, and the disposal of solid and human waste, but he assured that the site will be restored.

“All is not lost. I will assure you that under my watch this site will be treated with the national respect and value it commands,” Dr. Scatliffe said.

Questioned following his remarks as to what different can be done since similar promises were made in the past, Dr. Scatliffe said that one should wait and see.

In his feature address, Rev. Clarke who was part of the 1949 march that led to the rise of the Ministerial System of Government in the VI, cautioned against the people of the Virgin Islands becoming shackled again, while noting that there must be place to honour those who spearheaded the 1949 march.

“It’s good to celebrate our emancipation from shackles, but please let us be careful that we don’t put shackles on ourselves the type that keep us depressed and oppressed and strangers from each other,” Rev. Clarke stated.

He said freedom must come at a price, and as long as there are people with drugs and guns in the community, it will always be a struggle. The Reverend called on parents and elders to question whether they are doing enough to ensure that their children are getting enough quality of life instead of quantity.

“I don’t think we ought to place the blame on them,” Rev. Clarke said. “I think we ought to ask ourselves who are the gate keepers. Are we doing all that we can to ensure that we know where our children are? That we find quality time with our children or are we pursuing the dream of more and more to get less and less in quality for our children?” The Reverend questioned.

Delivering a chilling message where every statement was greeted with rousing applause and car horns, Rev. Clarke said that the VI now has a booming economy yet there are people who are living in poor conditions because rent is exorbitant in the absence of price control.

“We will be free my brothers and sisters in Christ  to the extent that we make demands upon those who are in position and that we make demands of ourselves not to ask our leaders to do things for us that we know are wrong. We can corrupt people by making hasty demands,” Rev. Clarke alluded.

He recalled growing up at a time when fruits, vegetables and fish were traded between neighbours.

“Freedom means to recapture and reclaim those things that help us to be a strong resilient people, unafraid, meeting struggles and challenges knowing that there is a mighty God, knowing he was, is and will always be there,” Rev. Clarke stated.

Also speaking at the ceremony was Deputy Premier, Dancia Penn-Sallah said that freedom from mental slavery is necessary.

“We need to free ourselves from things that bind us, those things that keep us enslaved, drugs, alcohol, stress, crime, guns, whatever the vices are,” the Deputy premier alluded. 

She said that it’s a good idea to have the Freedom March since it redeems a bit of sense as to why the VI celebrates emancipation which is very different from Carnival.

Chairman of the Virgin Islands Heritage Month Committee, Rev. Melvin Turnbull said the Territory has a great responsibility to pass on the culture to unborn generations.

“We must constantly remind our people, especially our young people that what we now have and what we now experience, should not be taken for granted, but it cost the blood, the sweat and even the lives of many who believed in our freedom and they rather die than be enslaved and should not take this for granted,” Rev. Turnbull stated.

Local poet Andria Flax recited a poem she said she was honoured to write for the occasion, while spiritual songs were rendered by Kimberly Donovan, who sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and the Acapella Fellows, with a inspiring version of  “Kumbaya My Lord”.

The service was also attended by Opposition House of Assembly member, Kedrick Pickering.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/Hide comments

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment