University of the West Indies' Professor Verene Shepherd, chair of the Jamaica National Bicentenary Committee. - photo by paul williams

After gracing our covers last week, Flair spoke with Prof. Verene Shepherd in her capacity as chair of the Jamaica National Bicentenary Committee (JNBC), commemorating the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the Trans-Atlantic trade in Africans.

"The major aim was to honour the African ancestors who struggled against the British trans-Atlantic trade in Africans (including anti-slavery activists from Haiti), and forced the passing of the act in 1807 - thereby, balancing the account of abolition which traditionally centres British benevolence," she stated. The committee also aimed to build tangible sites of memory to the ancestors, advance the case for reparation and to educate the public and school children on the details of the trade in Africans.

The activities varied from school essay competitions (one local; one regional), the production of a booklet for schools (entitled Freedom Delayed), public lectures and erection of monuments. The effort was totally voluntary over a two-year period and so, some committee members couldn't see it through to completion. She said that while the 'ordinary' man's response was overwhelming, the support, especially from academia and the local publishers, was good.

Corporate Jamaica

While thanking those who gave in cash and kind, she pointed out though, that there were still some members of corporate Jamaica who would never fund a committee like the JNBC, thus contributing to the lack of funding.

Asked how the success of an initiative like this would be gauged, Prof. Shepherd opined that the public would be a better judge.

"Perhaps we may see the results in years to come rather than right now. But I guess we could also judge by the support for our events and programme. The events were all well-attended." She highlighted the apparent international reach, going by the invitations from the United Kingdom, United States of America, wider Caribbean and Africa for information on what Jamaica was doing and for lectures by JNBC members.

The activities officially conclude in March with the cultural rally at the University of Technology and an awards ceremony. But in October, an Arrival Point monument at Kingston Harbour will be erected.