Prime Minister Bruce Golding lays a wreath at the Seville Jubilee celebration at Seville Heritage Park, St Ann on Thursday. - Roger Robinson/Freelance Photographer

OCHO RIOS, St Ann:

"Let us never forget the significance and importance of Emancipation Day."

This was the advice from Prime Minister Bruce Golding to the thousands of persons who turned up at the Seville Heritage Park in St Ann's Bay on Thursday night for the annual National Emancipation Vigil.

Gave up their lives

Golding reminded the gathering that many of their forefathers gave up their lives, fighting against terrible odds in the struggle for the freedom which people enjoy today.

He said that no one should take the freedom, which has come after many remarkable achievements over the years, for granted.

"Therefore, tonight we gather to enjoy ourselves, yes, to observe this ritual, yes, but we gather also to remind ourselves where we are coming from, who we are, how we got to where we are and how we got to become who we are," said the Prime Minister.

Golding said our forefathers, who were enslaved on the plantation, have nothing to be ashamed of.

"It is those who enslaved the slaves who should be ashamed."

The Emancipation Vigil featured a host of cultured activities, including traditional dances and other folk forms with performances from some of Jamaica's top festival groups. There were also performances by well-known Reggae artistes.