ABOUT THE EMANCIPATION SUPPORT COMMITTEE
BRIEF PROFILE OF THE EMANCIPATION SUPPORT COMMITTEE
The Emancipation Support Committee was born out of the joint efforts of a group of African organizations in Trinidad & Tobago. It acts in its own right or as an umbrella to advance the interests of Africans nationally and internationally. The history, ethnic composition, economic, social and political realities of this Caribbean country created the impetus for ethnic organizations to emerge and play an important part in the development of the nation. The twin island state with a population of 1.2 million - made up of Africans 39.6%, Indians 40.3%, another 18% describing themselves as mixed and the rest made up of Europeans, Chinese and Syrian-Lebanese - was founded in its modern incarnation on the near elimination of the indigenous population. The centuries that followed were marked by chattel slavery and East Indian indenture ship, leaving an ever renewing residue of white racism that still influences the economic and social structure, and clouds the psyche of all groups in the society.
Such is the context in which the network, known as the Emancipation Support Committee, was formalized in 1992, largely on the initiative of the Traditional African National Association. However the roots of the current organization go much deeper since the constituent groups have been active for several years, networking had developed in practice over a long period of time, and the leadership of the ESC is well established. The chairman of the committee and a number of its other leaders are persons who have gained national prominence and respect for decades of consistent struggle, going back to the late 1960's, on broad national issues as well as involvement in programs specifically targeted to the upliftment of Africans.
Without doubt, the committee is best known for its lead role in organizing the national observance of the emancipation of Africans from chattel slavery in Trinidad and Tobago. This occurred on August 1st 1838. Annual emancipation observances, which are formally opened by the country's Prime Minister, form a major part of our program. We use the occasion to raise consciousness, build self pride, motivation and the capacity for collective action, and channel African energies into positive directions in economics,education and culture. Our focus is always on Africans globally and we seek the participation of Africans from around the world. Our prominent visitors in the past included Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings, President of Ghana (in 1997) and Ms. Winnie Madikezela-Mandela (in 1998). Several scholars from the United States, Africa and other Caribbean territories have delivered guest lectures as part of our program. Though the emancipation activities absorb a great deal of the energies and resources of the Emancipation Support Committee,the group is constantly engaged in other major programs. One of its most demanding projects is called IFE, Intervention For Education, an ongoing intervention in the formal school system aimed at rescuing large sections of the youth population from falling standards in education.
Other programs are aimed mainly at public education in a wide number of areas targeted especially to African development, public observances of days important to Africans, and advocacy on issues of group interest. Special efforts are made to embrace young people in the organization's programs.
