THE 21st annual Walke Street Emancipation Committee Freedom Run takes off at 4pm on Tuesday at Walke Street, Sangre Grande. Organiser Montsho Masimba on Sunday called on the people of Sangre Grande to show their support to the athletes by cheering them as they pass outside their homes, or by making their way to Walke Street to enjoy a sporting/cultural event.
Athletes will begin at Walke Street and make a loop passing through Gilkes Street, Middle Street, Co-operative Street and Alphonso Street, before heading to the Eastern Main Road and turning onto Picton Road. They will then turn right to Ramoutar Street and then right to Ojoe Road, before making their way back to the Eastern Main Road through the heart of Sangre Grande for a dash to the finish line at Walke Street.
"I wanna call on the people of Sangre Grande to support these guests. I call them guests because it's not only nationals participating. We've had runners from Kenya, Guyana, Suriname and other countries participating over the years. Come out and show them that love. Show them what emancipation means. Show them what a free people can do when given the opportunity."
Masimba said this year will be different from previous editions with an art and craft display, a plant show, live musical entertainment (rapso, reggae, calypso, soca), awards for Grande stalwarts, masseuses to aid athletes' recovery post-race, and much more.
He said the event continues to spread the Emancipation Day message and celebrations from the capital to villages across the country. He said it was important that celebrations are not restricted to the Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain.
"The people who initiated the concept of August 1 being a public holiday in TT, to them it means more than going into Port of Spain with some fancy clothes and walk around the savannah. The people, in their vision, saw Emancipation Day in the homes of this country. They see emancipation as having a strong family bond with their husbands, wives, children.
"Emancipation in terms of being financially equipped and understanding the system we live in; how to save, how to protect your wealth, how to preserve your wealth. Emancipation is not about the whip and the chains coming off. It is about freeing of your mind."
He called on people to beat a drum, light a candle or say a prayer on the day to thank their ancestors for their sacrifices. He said the Emancipation movement continues to spread with Canada in 2021 designating August 1 to celebrate the end of African slavery.
Last year's male and female winners were Nicholas Romany and Shardie Mahabir.
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