President of the Clement Payne Movement, David Comissiong, addressing the moderate crowd at the Emancipation Statue.

by CARLOS ATWELL

HAPPY, with a light spirit and a spring in their steps.

This is how David Comissiong summarised the feelings of participants of the Clement Payne Movement's Emancipation Day ceremony at the Emancipation (Bussa) Statue yesterday.

Comissiong, head of the movement, said the turnout for the 7 a.m. to 8 a.m event at the roundabout in St Barnabas, St Michael, was moderate, but that did not worry him.

"We did not advertise or promote this event, so Barbadians who felt that they wanted to be there made the effort," he said.

While admitting the ceremony was much bigger when it was backed by the state, he said he was confident they did justice to "the ancestors".

"I speak for all who were there when I say we all left with a vibrant spirit and went away feeling good that we had a meaningful ceremony by doing our duty, recommitting ourselves to the struggle and celebrating Emancipation Day in the correct manner," Comissiong said.

In Monday's DAILY NATION, he said his movement would not march with the Commission for Pan-African Affairs from Heroes Square in the City to the Bay Street Esplanade, held at 3 p.m. yesterday, as he did not understand the significance of walking to the Esplanade.

He said it was important the tradition of walking to the statue on the ABC Highway be maintained.

Comissiong stressed the importance of honouring and remembering all those who fought valiantly to destroy the evil system of slavery. He also cited the involvement of several non-African abolitionists.

But, he added, racism was still alive in Barbados.

"There is a system whose roots are in slavery where there is a small group of white elites who continue to own and dominate an extremely large and disproportionate share of the wealth and business in Barbados.

"It is a shameful legacy and if we are to properly honour those who fought against slavery, we have to commit ourselves to removing this national scandal in order to promote racial harmony and share the wealth of Barbados across racial lines," he said.

Other speakers included David Denny, who represented the Cuba/Barbados Friendship Association; poet and University of the West Indies lecturer Margaret Gill; and deacon in the Spiritual Baptist Church, Wayne Onkphra Wells.

General secretary of the Barbados Workers' Union Sir Roy Trotman, writer and dramatist Cynthia Wilson, attorney-at-law Robert "Bobby" Clarke and Pan-Africanist and businessman Muhammad Nasser were among those who attended the ceremony.

* carlosatwell@nationnews.com