For the first time, a freedom walk and historic guided tour will be held to celebrate Emancipation Day on Thursday, August 1.
It is being held under the theme From Emancipation to Independence, and is designed to give participants an opportunity to explore or rediscover that aspect of the island???s heritage.
Organised by the Commission for Pan African Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and other government stakeholders, the event will start at 6:00 a.m. with the National Emancipation Day Ceremony, at the Emancipation Statue, JTC Ramsay Roundabout, Haggatt Hall, St. Michael.
This will be followed by the guided historic tour at 8:00 a.m., which will begin with a brief history of Emancipation.
Led by noted historian, Maurice Greenidge, the walkers will leave the Emancipation Statue and proceed along Two Mile Hill on to Tweedside Road then on to James A. Tudor roundabout.
They will then turn south at Halls Road, right at Constitution Road and then on to St. Michael???s Row. The walkers will make a left turn at the Treasury Building and a right on to the Independence Square.
Along the route, patrons will be introduced to several points of interest, such as JTC Ramsay???s home, ???Sans Souci???, King Ja Ja of Opobo???s house; The Carters and Ilaro Court, and the Quaker Burial Grounds.
Once at Tweedside, the heritage of Barbadian family names will be examined. These include the Bruiser, Thomas, Harpers, Cricks, and Tulls.
Patrons will also learn about the deadly floods of 1938, 1949 and 1970; and the reconstruction; as well as the final signal stations established after Bussa; and the fires of Bridgetown, which occurred at Spry Street, Church Village and Bridge Street.
The walk will conclude at 10:00 a.m. at Independence Square with a cultural presentation by the Pinelands Creative Workshop and calypsonian, BoBo.
Although admission is free, interested persons should register for the Freedom Walk and Historic Tour ??? From Emancipation to Independence, online at www.ticketpal.com.
Participants are advised to converge at the Emancipation Statue at 6:00 a.m. for the ceremony. Parking will be available at Sky Mall and the Standard Complex (Old Barbados Hardware), Haggatt Hall, St. Michael.
shamkoe.pile@barbados.gov.bb