BASSETERRE, St Kitts – AS the Caribbean pauses to commemorate Emancipation Day and honour the sacrifices of ancestors who fought for freedom, CARICOM Chairman and St Lucia Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre says the region’s emancipation journey remains incomplete without economic empowerment.
With countries across the region observing Emancipation Day during the long holiday weekend, Pierre stressed that freedom must extend beyond political independence and include greater access to wealth creation, ownership and opportunity for Caribbean people.
“They deserve opportunity. They deserve ownership. They deserve prosperity,” Pierre said.
“We must build economies where Caribbean people are creating wealth, not merely consuming it. Where our young people see opportunity at home. Where our entrepreneurs can succeed. Where our farmers, fishers and manufacturers are valued. Where hard work is rewarded with dignity. That is the Caribbean we must build.”
The CARICOM Chairman said young people must remain at the centre of the region’s development agenda, emphasizing the need to equip the next generation with the skills required to lead and innovate.
“Every child deserves the chance to dream. Every young person deserves the chance to achieve,” Pierre said.
He added that schools must prepare young people “to innovate, to lead, to build businesses, to master technology, to transform our societies,” while encouraging them to use their talents to strengthen their nations and the wider Caribbean Community.
Food security remains critical
Pierre also highlighted food security as a key component of true independence, warning that no nation can be considered secure if it cannot feed itself.
Against the backdrop of global uncertainty, rising costs and shifting trade policies, he said Caribbean countries must continue efforts to strengthen local food production.
“Every acre cultivated, every farmer supported, every fisher encouraged, every Caribbean product placed on our supermarket shelves brings us one step closer to genuine independence,” he said.
The region continues to face a significant food import bill, leaving many Caribbean countries vulnerable to external shocks, including disruptions in global supply chains and changes in international trade policies.
Pierre also pointed to energy security as another important part of the region’s development.
“Our future depends upon affordable, reliable and cleaner sources of energy,” he said. “Not only because it protects our environment, but because it strengthens our economy, creates jobs and lowers the cost of living for our people.”
He described food and energy security not simply as development priorities, but as part of the “unfinished journey of emancipation.”
Reparations and remembering the past
The CARICOM Chairman also addressed the region’s continued push for reparatory justice, making clear that the call for reparations is rooted in truth and accountability.
“The pursuit of reparations for slavery is not about blame, not about revenge. It is about the truth and justice for the human suffering of slavery,” Pierre said.
He reflected on the experiences of Africans who endured generations of enslavement while maintaining their dignity, resilience and hope.
“Today, we remember the women, men and children whose bodies were enslaved, but whose spirits could never be conquered,” he said. “Because they endured, because they resisted, because they believed, we stand here today as a free people.”
Pierre said Emancipation Day represents more than a historical moment, describing it as a reminder of the struggles overcome and the responsibilities that remain.
“Freedom was never handed to our ancestors. Freedom was demanded. Freedom was fought for. Freedom was paid for with sacrifice, with courage and with an unbreakable faith,” he said.
He noted that while the abolition of slavery marked a significant turning point, it did not bring an immediate end to inequality.
Building a stronger Caribbean
Pierre reflected on the region’s complex history, including the experiences of Indigenous dispossession, African enslavement, indentureship and colonialism, while highlighting the resilience and achievements of Caribbean people.
“Out of pain our people created beauty. Out of struggle our people created strength. Out of oppression our people created hope,” he said. “We built nations. We built communities. We built democracies.”
He pointed to the region’s contributions in music, literature and culture, saying Caribbean people should remain proud of their identity and accomplishments.
“We are Caribbean people. We are a proud people. We are a resilient people. And we have every reason to believe in our future.”
Pierre concluded by urging Caribbean citizens to view freedom as both a privilege and a responsibility.
“Every generation inherits more than freedom; it inherits a responsibility,” he said. “Our responsibility is to honour the sacrifices of those who came before us by building a society that is more just, more united and more prosperous than the one they entrusted to us.”
He called for a CARICOM Community where emancipation is reflected not only in celebrations but in the daily lives and opportunities available to Caribbean people.
