Emancipation Day reinstated as a holiday

Emancipation Day will be formally recognised and reinstated in May 2024, replacing Discovery Day as a public holiday, government has announced.

In a statement Wednesday afternoon, the Ministry for Sports, Youth Culture and Heritage said Cabinet has approved the return of the Emancipation Day holiday, which will be commemorated on the first Monday in May.

Culture and Heritage Minister Bernie Bush, in the statement, said Emancipation Day’s recognition and reinstatement “mark a significant step towards honouring our unique history and cultural heritage”.

“This decision not only pays tribute to our ancestors’ struggles and triumphs but also invites our community to connect with the profound roots of our cultural identity,” he said.

He added, “It is an opportunity to learn, remember, and celebrate our remarkable journey. The initiation of a public survey to formalise additional national symbols to ensure these traditions and customs remain for future generations is also key to building cultural identity and national pride.”

The Discovery Day holiday which is being dropped had celebrated the sighting of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac by Christopher Columbus on 10 May 1503.

Emancipation Day was first observed in the Cayman Islands in 1835, before being replaced with the Constitution Day holiday by the Legislative Assembly in the 1960’s.

The reinstatement of Emancipation Day as a national day of observance began in late 2022 when the ministry established task forces to facilitate discussions, collect data, research and examine existing policies to address issues such as slavery, emancipation and cultural identity.

In September this year, the ministry presented its findings and submitted two Cabinet papers – on cultural identity and Emancipation Day – “highlighting the pressing need to preserve the traditions of the Cayman Islands and restore a missing piece of our history,” the statement noted.

The decision to celebrate this holiday in May is in recognition of Cayman’s “unique history” with emancipation.

“Records of the Cayman Islands and accounts of the vibrant and celebrated occasion, especially in Bodden Town, the first political capital of the Cayman Islands, clearly indicate the commemorations of Emancipation Day on 5th May 1835, when Captain Anthony Pack, 84th Regiment of Foot and Colonel in Chief of the Militia of the Cayman Islands, read a Proclamation to the assembled inhabitants of Bodden Town, both black and white,” the statement said.

Cabinet has also approved the commencement of a public survey to formalise additional national symbols, such as a Cayman Islands national dish, drink, dessert, dress and dance.

“In doing so, we recognise the importance of cultural identity to the Cayman Islands and our efforts to the preservation and awareness of Cayman’s cultural heritage. Additionally, the objective is to enhance the significance of existing recognised National Symbols and foster a sense of patriotism to our country, while also respecting and acknowledging our forefather’s customs, traditions, resilience and strength through these initiatives,” the statement said.

Emancipation Day background

The ministry noted that with the official announcement of slavery coming to an end in the Cayman Islands on 3 May 1835, the first commemoration of the day was celebrated on 5 May that year.

It pointed out that historical records and theoretical papers from Caymanian cultural stewards show that Emancipation Day was celebrated well into the 20th century and “boasted vibrant celebrations in Cayman’s first capital Bodden Town”.

It added, “The reinstatement of Emancipation Day is an opportunity for the community to learn and connect with aspects of Cayman’s history that are currently missing. Considering the historical context, references to slavery and Emancipation Day in the Cayman Islands, alongside the theoretical framework and findings, the removal of Emancipation Day suggests the re-scripting of Cayman’s history, false claims of no slavery; and erases a significant part of our cultural heritage.”

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