EMANCIPATION OBSERVANCES MESSAGE BY SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY

One hundred and sixty three years after the proclamation of emancipation in 1838, the struggle continues for the descendants of African slaves as they seek to claim their rightful space in a world still rife with racial discrimination and prejudice. All of us who inhabit these lands, regardless of race or creed, have had to surmount various trials and ordeals in our endeavour to break free of the many prejudices which still threaten our efforts at securing our future.

Notwithstanding, these obstacles/challenges, great strides have been made in the Caribbean by the descendants of the Middle Passage who have made, and continue to make, lasting contributions towards the building of our Caribbean Region into a viable and prosperous community. More and more, however, this effort must be linked to a re-energising of the Middle Passage, but at this period in our history, to serve as "the locus of a new triangular trade that elevates all participants", as is so aptly expressed in this year's celebrations

Today, new threats and forms of degradation - some externally imposed and others freely chosen - and a seemingly never ending cycle of poverty, risk inflicting great damage to present and future generations. Let the spirit of Emancipation spur us on to confront these threats, prime among them being persistent poverty and HIV/AIDS, which imperil not only the children of Africa, but a large part of humanity.

As Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community I call on all, to take advantage of the beginning of this new millennium, to commit ourselves to two new beginnings. First of all, let us individually and collectively, strive to emancipate ourselves and our society, not only from prejudice and discrimination, but also from those destructive and debilitating lifestyle choices, especially those which may lead to consequences such as drug abuse, and HIV/AIDS. Secondly, let us individually and collectively commit ourselves to build on our ancestral relations and to make them pillars of a Caribbean Community worthy of the aspirations of all its peoples.

These commitments may well be our greatest gifts to future generations and our greatest contribution to the true emancipation of the descendants of the Middle Passage.