The twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago celebrated Emancipation Day on Monday (August 1, 2022). Tobago’s celebrations involved a street procession through the streets of Crown Point, concluding at the Store Bay Heritage Park. 

Participants showed their cultural pride as they walked, danced, and sang in a colourful display, while visitors got a chance to enjoy in-person viewing of the event. 

Britain passed the Slavery Abolition Act in August 1833 and it came into effect on August 1, 1834. The Emancipation celebrations were held to commemorate the 188^th anniversary of the liberation of enslaved Africans.

One hundred and fifty-one years later, on August 1, 1985, Trinidad and Tobago became the first country in the world to declare a national holiday to commemorate the abolition of slavery.