Emancipate Matthew – and Montano
By Prince Court
In a newspaper of Friday, August 2nd of 2024, I read the following, under the caption Poor Support for Watchnight Gathering.
“Disappointed with the attendance on Wednesday evening at the 16th annual Watchnight Gathering in observance of Emancipation Day, the Minister of Education, Sports and Creative Industries has agreed that something must be done to boost interest and attendance for the gathering”.
The article continued: “Organized by the Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Commission, the Watchnight Gathering, held at the Botanical Gardens, was described as a continuous cherished tradition, symbolizing the anticipation enslaved Africans felt as they awaited news of their freedom.
However, it continues to be overshadowed by the carnival festivities that are held simultaneously”.
“On Wednesday evening”, it continues, “Minister Daryll Matthew said that the turnout continues to be disappointing and told the gathering there must be renewed interest in the activities planned in observance of Emancipation Day”.
Matthew is quoted as saying; “ MAYBE AS THE MINISTER WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR FESTIVALS AND EVENTS LIKE THIS, MAYBE I NEED TO DO SOME REFLECTION TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE DOING ENOUGH TO EMPOWER AND ENLIGHTEN PERSONS ABOUT THIS ACTIVITY”.
Hallelujah!!
What brilliant reflection!! Not only has the minister programmed a major carnival show, as usual, for the same night as the Emancipation Watchnight, but this year it is the Caribbean Melting Pot night; and as brilliant stroke of genius reflection, we have the leading regional, if not international, soca artist Machel Montano, performing in that hot entertainment pot. Guess where.
A hundred yards or so away from the Emancipation Watchnight.
It will be Machel Montano versus Dr Julius Garvey, son of the leader of the greatest mobilization of black people ever on this planet.
Einstein must have been engaged for that decision.
It’s like having the Pied Piper performing at the Antigua Recreation Grounds, while expecting children to gather under the rubber tree at the Botanical Gardens to eat vegetables.
Garvey could be saying a few words at the beginning of the night’s program at the ARG, to the melting pot of Caribbean people, as his father would have done.
Approaching midnight, there could be some relevant artistic performance, then at midnight, the minute of silence, the drumming/iron band and perhaps some fireworks.
Let’s emancipate ourselves from mental slavery.
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I am fed-up of this debate and argument every year..Carnival happens to be around 1st August so the association is made. However, Carnival as it was started by the late Sir Ferdie Shoul, Dame Yvonne Maginley, Oscar Mason and others had nothing to do with emancipation. It had to do with developing an economic activity at a slow period. It had to do with developing a budding tourism industry at the time. Maybe we should move it to mid July so that this nonsense can stop and leave 1st August for the few who still care. I know for sure, and sadly, our young people don’t give a damn about either emancipation or reparations.And we cannot force them. The world has changed and they just want to get naked, drink alcohol, wine up and smoke the legal herb. They don’t know anything about our history and you want them to care about emancipation? Both events will be on at the same time and we have free will to attend what we want.
Say your name.
Why the writer of the article and the responder can’t say their names?
Masquerade
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