Minister Melissa D. Gumbs - 2026 Emancipation Day Remarks

1 July 2026, we observed Emancipation Day. This year's theme, 'Buss Di Chain & Free Your...' was the Ministry's invitation to the people to envision what freedom, what emancipation, looks like and means to them. It was a beautiful celebration of our ancestors' history, their creativity, their vibrancy and their commitment to survival. That it was held at the Belvedere Plantation, one of our most critical cultural and heritage sites, made it that much more impactful. Thank you to the Department of Culture, the St. Maarten Development Fund and the Herdenkingscomite Slavernijleden for their collaboration in the planning and execution of this year's celebration. A special thank you to Jean-Marc Augusty from the St. Maarten Museum for his History of Belvedere speech and for providing guided tours to those patrons who joined us on the site. And of course, thank you to the people who attended. It is always a joy for me to see members of the public bring their families to celebrate these imp