Anna-Lisa Paul
Senior Reporter
annalisa.paul@guardian.co.tt
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has welcomed the move by the Ministry of Education (MoE) to join hands with the Merikins National Community to ensure the story of African survival and resilience is included in the school curriculum.
Applauding the initiative as he delivered the feature address at the Merikin National Community Award and Recognition Ceremony at the Southern Academy of the Performing Arts, San Fernando, on Thursday, he said it was “a noteworthy story which should be known by every citizen.”
Advocating for it to be “told truthfully and not white-washed,” the Prime Minister said it was an example of African resistance, decisiveness, strength, courage, pride in their identity, and empowerment in the face of colonialism, oppression and systematic dehumanisation.
August 20 marked the 207th anniversary of the arrival of a group of freed African-American slaves from various parts of the Atlantic coast of the United States to T&T.
This arose from an agreement and proclamation made between the British Crown and an elite squadron of runaway slaves on April 2, 1814.
These soldiers, known as the Merikins, arrived in Trinidad on August 20, 1816, as free men, although African slavery was still in existence.
Personally declaring the story of the Merikins to be a monumental saga of a strong people, Rowley said over the past 200 years, they had evolved into dedicated and distinguished citizens who had blended into T&T’s national fabric.
During his brief address, he added, “Your country is inspired by your resilience, your sense of family, your embrace and respect for your ancestry.”
Praising the surviving heirs of the Merikins, the Prime Minister acknowledged the continued celebration of their past rather than letting themselves be consumed by some sad experiences.
He encouraged them to “continue to be proud. Inspire the coming generations and in so doing, continue to be one of the jewels of that star-studded crown, the story of which is the history of Trinidad and Tobago.”
Among those who also attended the ceremony were Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon and Youth Development and National Service Minister Foster Cummings.