𝐏𝐍𝐂𝐑/𝐀𝐏𝐍𝐔 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦

On this Emancipation Day, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), together with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), extends heartfelt greetings to all Guyanese at home and throughout the Diaspora, especially our brothers and sisters of African descent.

Emancipation Day is more than a celebration of our ancestors’ liberation from the cruel institution of slavery. It is a solemn reminder of their courage, sacrifice and unwavering determination to secure dignity, justice and the right to shape their own destiny. Their struggle laid the foundation upon which generations of Guyanese continue to pursue equality and freedom.

This year, however, we commemorate Emancipation under a cloud of grief and national concern. We remember the more than one hundred lives tragically lost in the MV Barima disaster. We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that they receive truth, justice and accountability.

The PNCR/APNU remains deeply concerned by what we believe to be the unjust prosecution of three African Guyanese men in connection with this tragedy. We maintain that these charges risk diverting attention from the serious questions surrounding the Government’s management of Guyana’s maritime sector, the enforcement of safety standards, and the systemic failures that may have contributed to this national tragedy. Those responsible at every level must be held accountable through a transparent and impartial process.

More than 188 years after Emancipation, many Guyanese continue to experience economic hardship, inequality and exclusion. Despite Guyana’s unprecedented oil wealth, too many families remain trapped in poverty, unemployed or underemployed, while opportunities are too often perceived to favour those with political connections rather than merit. This is inconsistent with the promise of a democratic and inclusive Guyana.

We are also increasingly concerned by what we view as the erosion of fundamental democratic freedoms. The rights to free expression, freedom of association and freedom of conscience are essential pillars of any democracy and must be protected for every citizen, regardless of race, political affiliation or social standing.

Emancipation teaches us that freedom is not merely the absence of physical chains. True freedom exists when every citizen enjoys equal opportunity, equal justice before the law, and the confidence that their Government serves all people fairly and without discrimination.

Today, we call upon Guyanese of every race, religion and community to reject division and embrace national unity. The future of Guyana cannot be built on exclusion, fear or unequal treatment. It must be built on justice, fairness, respect for the rule of law and equal opportunity for all.

The PNCR/APNU recommits itself to the principles for which our foreparents struggled: liberty, equality, justice and human dignity. We pledge to continue advocating for a Guyana where every citizen can prosper, where national resources benefit all our people, and where no one is left behind because of race, political belief or social status.

As we honour the legacy of our emancipated ancestors, let us draw strength from their resilience and renew our determination to build a nation that truly reflects the ideals of freedom, justice and equality.

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞. 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐮𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐚.