Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has called on citizens to honour the sacrifices of enslaved Africans by building a nation rooted in justice, equality and respect for all.

In her African Emancipation Day message, Mrs. Persad-Bissessar said the transatlantic slave trade was “one of history’s greatest crimes against humanity” but noted that the spirit and determination of African people could never be broken.

She said emancipation helped shape the modern Caribbean and highlighted the contributions of African descendants to every aspect of national life, from culture and education to business, science and sport.