AUGUST 1, as the anniversary of Emancipation, was for long the occasion for popular festivity in Barbados and other West Indian islands, though it was generally ignored by the upper classes.
It was later celebrated on the first Monday in August, the “August Bank Holiday”, which was eventually renamed Kadooment Day – the A-Z Of Barbados Heritage, Page 71.
The reason for the move of the Emancipation Day bank holiday was presumably in keeping with the policy at that time, as prior to Independence, bank holidays were generally celebrated on Mondays, the exceptions being Christmas Day, Christmas Bank Holiday, New Year’s Day and Labour Day.
In 1997, I welcomed the decision of the then Government to acknowledge August 1 as Emancipation Day, which marked the first time in over 100 years that the date was publicly acknowledged. That in part redressed the 1984 decision which traded the Emancipation Bank Holiday for bacchanal.
My delight was, however, considerably tempered by the fact that with the first Monday of August still being observed as Kadooment Day, every six years or so these bank holidays come into “conflict” whenever August 1 falls on a Monday. Emancipation Day is then forced to “give way” to Kadooment Day and be relegated to August 2.
Emancipation Day should be of great historical significance to the majority of the Barbadians whose forefathers suffered the indignities of slavery.
Although the Ministry of Culture talks about The Season Of Emancipation, the essence of Emancipation Day will never achieve its place of eminence in our national awareness.
There is no divine decree indicating that Kadooment Day should be celebrated on the first Monday in August. As a matter of fact, the revived Crop Over Festival was originally held during the month of June, with, until 1983, Kadooment Day, being celebrated on the first Monday in July.
I think that to ensure the prominence of Emancipation Day, Kadooment Day could be moved to the third Monday in August.
This would require planning to avoid any logistical problems with the various stakeholders. However, it can have positive spin-offs for the economy.
Kadooment Day clashes with Caribana in Toronto, Culturama in St Kitts & Nevis, and Carnivals in Antigua and BVI. Grenada’s Carnival is held on the second Monday in August and the next major one takes place at Notting Hill in London on the last weekend in August.
A new date could result in two positive outcomes: the possible increase of revellers and the participation of our entertainers in the mentioned carnivals. It’s at least worth a thought.
– WILFRID McD. ESTWICK