Good morning to everyone, local, regional, and national authorities, organizing committees, our queens and candidates, performers, men and women of the press, and all of you who are visiting us.

Today we are united once more as brothers and sisters to celebrate another year of freedom. The 27th of August is significant for the people of Great Corn Island and Little Corn Island; it’s the day islanders, near and far from home, remember the liberation of our ancestors, who were enslaved until 1841.

The Corn Islands, of turquoise waters and white sand, have always been craved by many. The Kukra Indians roamed this land long before anyone else, and pirates, buccaneers, and explorers walked her shores less than 3 centuries ago seeking the natural and God-giving riches this land has.

Slavery was brought to our islands when the first settlers arrived in the 18th century. Most of these migrants, of British and Scottish origin, brought unwillingly many Africans to the Caribbean and forced them to work in their plantation grounds and households.

They were compelled to hours of hard unpaid labor, suffering under the hot sun, planting the grounds, building rock walls, cooking food for their masters, washing their clothes, bringing water from the wells, and much more tiring work. Most enslaved tried to escape the lifestyle that was imposed on them, but many failed due to it being impossible to leave the islands. Others kept working until they died.

But all of this changed one day, on August 27th, 1841, it was very early in the morning, the day started as usual for the few people that lived on the island when suddenly the conch shell started to blow from the top of Quinn Hill; a caravel ship was spotted anchoring off the shores of Southwest Bay.

Back then, the conch shell had been a way for the people to know whenever a ship was approaching the land, so as soon as the enslaved people heard this sound, some went down to the bayside to see who was arriving.

Colonel Alexander McDonald, Superintendent of the English Crown in British Honduras (today Belize) arrived on this vessel and asked to see all enslaved people and their masters a few hours later on the same beach.

According to historical text, the slave owners were the family Hodgson, Quinn, Downes (today Downs), Hooker, Forbes, Bowden, Hansacks and Cottrell (today Cathrall). Between these families, they owned more than 98 slaves.

Hours later, when everyone was congregated on the beach, McDonald read the following statement, that said, among other things:

“In the name of Queen Victoria of Great Britain and Ireland and Robert Charles Frederic, King of the Mosquito Coast, I hereby declare freedom to all men and women on this land… the British Crown will pay £ 25-pound sterling to each owner for every person that was granted freedom…” - McDonald proclaimed.

This announcement marked a very important moment in the history of the Corn Islands, those who were enslaved for many years were finally seeing a new way, freedom was now theirs.

The newly freed men and women decided to happily celebrate their freedom that same day. They went to the swamps to catch land crabs and to the plantation ground for breadkind. That day, they prepared for supper a crab soup that was served in calabash, and they danced while singing and playing songs on handmade instruments.

They sang and danced all night with joy and happiness, for they were now free men and women. Since that day, the crab soup has become a symbol of freedom for the people of the Corn Islands.

After emancipation, most of the freedmen and women decided to travel to other Caribbean islands, some towards their motherland, Africa, while others remained on the Corn Islands where they built their own household and formed their family, giving birth to what we know today as the Creole ethnicity.

11 years after this historical event, in 1852, Reverend Edward Kelly arrived at Great Corn Island. He himself was the son of a freed slave from British Honduras and he endeavored on the island to spread the gospel and to establish the first religious and educational institution on the islands, this was the Ebenezer Baptist Church and School.

It was reverent Kelly that motivated the people of the Corn Islands to always celebrate the emancipation of their parents and grandparents. So, every year, since 1859, the people would gather in the neighborhood of North End under a giant fig tree in Mrs. Teresa Lampson's courtyard to celebrate with the church this historic day. Traditional games like cricket; reciting poems, singing songs, enjoying delicious pastry and food, and of course, drinking crab soup were all part of this gathering.

Although over the last century this celebration has been evolving and adapting itself to the modern custom of the world, one thing is sure, the Corn Islands have been, and will always celebrate the day their ancestors were set free from slavery.

And that is why, my fellow islanders, we must always keep in mind: that celebrating our Emancipation should be one of our greatest pride and no matter where we are and what our current situation may be, we should always keep our ancestors's inheritance of freedom in our hearts and share it, along with other of our customs and traditions, to the younger generations so it may live on forever.

“For there is no greater gift than freedom and the right to roam and live in peace”.

Happy Emancipation Day!

Hace 14 años, en mi natal Corn Island, me uní por invitación de una compañera de la escuela al club de adolescentes, un colectivo de aprendizaje que transformó mi vida para siempre.

Hoy, reflexionó y me acuerdo de aquel adolescente tímido que fui y como dicha decisión me ayudó a encontrar mi camino, y a ser consciente de la importancia de trabajar por otros, por la comunidad, sobre todo por los más vulnerables.

Los jóvenes son instrumentos de transformación social, la solución de las tantas problemáticas que existen en el mundo contemporáneo y que solo pueden ser resueltas o erradicadas por personas consientes y comprometidos con su entorno. 

La educación es pieza clave en este proceso, porque ofrece las herramientas necesarias para resolver las problemáticas actuales y permite expandir conocimientos para multiplicar la buena andanza.

En el Día Internacional de la Juventud, todo mi cariño a los adolescentes, jóvenes, organizaciones y a cada individuo que se dedica a la transformación social. Mi invitación es a que sean dispuestos a la transformación social, a ser el cambio que desean ver en su entorno y que sigan sumando esfuerzos para hacer de este mundo un lugar mejor.

De los pueblos originarios aprendemos a amar y vivir en armonía con la naturaleza, y abrazar con orgullo el legado de nuestros antepasados. 

En el Día Internacional de los Pueblos Indígenas, el compromiso está en seguir trabajando para conservar y proteger lo heredado por quienes han habitado estas tierras desde hace miles de años. 

August reconnects us with our roots and invites us to acknowledge the path and struggles of our ancestors, who hoped and prayed for a better dawn almost two centuries ago. 

The entire Caribbean remembers their liberation, an event that brought a new beginning to hundreds who were stripped from their motherland to work unwillingly. 

Black Heritage Month is a reminder of our African ancestry, the history, food, music, rituals, and features, all that resemble who we are and our link to those before us. 

As we acknowledge our past, let us look towards a better tomorrow, and thrive with a sense of pride, knowing who we are and where we want to be. 

Happy Black Heritage Month!

I am the son of the land where the sea looks like gold in the evening or after dawn, the result of a young love; a brother, an uncle, a grandchild, a nephew, and a friend to many or few. 

I am the smiles I provoke on others’ faces, the comfort or warmth my presence brings, or the bitterness of my soul on a humid or extremely hot day. 

I am the one who smiles during rainy days and has not slipped and slid through his journey despite the thunderstorm and lightning. 

I am the fellow with shorts and slippers, with a cap and backpack, the one that loves contemplating nature, exploring new places, and learning new things. 

I am the time I share with you, the little or many things I give, the advice I share, and the love I have for my own and others. 

I am a daydreamer who was once told by the darkness that there is no light up ahead, yet I still see the pathway to reach the stars. 

I am just like you, probably loved by some and despite by others, however, both things are what make me stronger. 

I am the resemblance of my roots: resilient and hopeful, impatient but confident, creative and resistant, cheerful and strong. 

I am the forever son of June, and with every season I am a better version, born to be great and to give a helping hand. 

I am who I am and there will never be another as good or bad as me—it all depends on what you want to see.

According to experts, plastic (bags, plates, bottles…) can take up to 500 years to decompose—depending on its structure and size. Around the world, plastic pollution is a big problem, for now, in some places more than others, but it will eventually affect everyone. 

Plastic waste in seas and oceans threatens marine life, it produces chemical contamination and creates microplastic that eventually will end up in potable water. 

On this World Environmental Day, let's reflect on our abusive use of non-recyclable plastic and commit ourselves to implement more sustainable and eco-friendly practices for Mother Earth's and future generations' welfare.