As in previous years, officials from the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Barbados attended the launch of the Emancipation Season and the Commemoration of the Anniversary of the Bussa Rebellion on April 14, 2026.
The event took place at Groves Plantation, located in St. Philip Parish, under the auspices of the Office of Pan-African Affairs and Heritage, within the Prime Minister's Office. The Minister, the Honorable Trevor Prescod, addressed the audience, emphasizing the importance of this commemoration.
The objective of this commemorative season is to provide a space for reflection, education, and celebration that recalls the end of slavery on the island. This event includes a diverse program of activities such as lectures, exhibitions, and cultural performances, and is a time for Barbadians to reflect on the legacy of slavery and the struggles of their ancestors, as well as to celebrate their freedom and the rich cultural heritage that has been inherited and enriched in the years since emancipation.
Following performances by the Grantley Adams School Choir and the Pinelands and Winston Famel Creative Workshop, the evening program featured a special presentation of a significant study conducted by the Culture Division in 2025, entitled “Quantifying the Damage to Movable Property in Barbados from Transatlantic Slavery (1627–1834): Calculating the Monetary Value of Lost Income.”
This research was prepared by international researchers Alice Shao, Alberto Vargas, Ben Wagner, and Professor Hilary Beckles, who presented the study. Dr. Henderson Carter and Dr. Coleman Bazelon joined him on the panel and in the debate.
Research of this kind contributes significantly to the ongoing discourse on restorative justice and the historical responsibility of former colonial powers toward the colonies that were enslaved for centuries.