Political Parties in Guyana Mark Emancipation Day with Calls for Justice, Unity, and True Empowerment

August 1 2025

As Guyana observes the 187th anniversary of Emancipation Day, political parties across the country have issued strong messages of reflection, honour, and calls to action, each highlighting key priorities for Afro-Guyanese advancement and national unity.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) called for continued efforts to “foster inclusion, defend democracy, and work together to secure a future where every Guyanese, regardless of race or background, has the opportunity to thrive.”

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) urged citizens to “take action to change our reality of discrimination, victimization, marginalization and inequality… and commit to rescuing Guyana, liberating ourselves and rejecting those whose political fortune depends on keeping us economically and politically oppressed.”

The Alliance For Change (AFC) emphasized that “many Afro-Guyanese still face systemic challenges—economic exclusion, cultural suppression, and unequal access to state resources,” and called on all Guyanese to “choose a government that works for all.”

Forward Guyana Movement highlighted that “emancipation is more than history; it is a living call to continue the work of justice, unity, and pride in who we are,” encouraging citizens to walk proud and build boldly.

Meanwhile, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) stressed that “freedom didn’t end with emancipation” and advocated for “investing in justice, education, opportunity, and healing,” urging Guyanese to build “the kind of Guyana our ancestors dreamed of.”

Together, the messages reflect a shared recognition of Afro-Guyanese resilience and an urgent call for equity, empowerment, and national solidarity as the country commemorates this significant day.