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PHILIPSBURG--Under the theme "Emancipation from Within-The Voice of Our People" St. Maarten will be observing Emancipation Day 2015 on Wednesday, July 1, culminating in a celebration and cultural manifestation at Emilio Wilson Park in the afternoon.

The Emancipation Day programme, organized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, in conjunction with Voices Foundation, was presented Tuesday afternoon during a press conference at Claude Wathey Legislative Hall.

Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Rita Bourne-Gumbs called upon all St. Maarteners to come out and celebrate the fourth official Emancipation Day celebration "as one people" as these celebrations will "enlighten, educate and bring unity."

Emancipation Day activities will start as early as Tuesday, June 30, at midnight, with a theatrical re-enactment of the Diamond Hill Estate Run on Diamond Hill in Cole Bay. Participants are requested to gather at Caribbean Auto Sales' parking lot from 1:00pm.

Organising committee members, co-founder of National Institute of Arts (NIA) Clara Reyes and President of Conscious Lyrics Foundation Shujah Reiph, said the re-enactment will be held in commemoration of the escape of 26 slaves to the liberated north of the island in 1848. Previous re-enactments of this historical event, described as an "important marker in our history," were held in 2005 and 2006.

Members of the public are welcome to take part in the re-enactment "in honour of our ancestors by walking in their footsteps," it was said. Participants, who are requested to bring candles and dress according to the fashion of the time and preferably walk barefoot or on sandals, will be walking from Diamond Estate across Diamond Hill in the direction of Marigot, where they will be met by another group which will be walking in the opposite direction.

The event will be closed off with a collective rendition of the ponum dance. Persons interested can learn the ponum dance nightly at John Larmonie Center, starting from today, Wednesday, at 7:30pm.

Emancipation Day 2015 will be officially opened with an ecumenical service at St. Martin of Tours Roman Catholic Church on Front Street, Wednesday, at 9:00am, followed by symbolic wreath laying ceremonies at One Tete Lokhay and Freedom Fighters monuments between 10:15am and 11:00am.

Voices Foundation will be hosting an Emancipation Day celebration and cultural manifestation at Emilio Wilson Park, 1:00pm to 6:30pm. A cultural parade, starting at the entrance of Marigot Hill Road at 2:30pm, will lead through St. Peters to Emilio Wilson Estate.

Parade organiser, Director of Philipsburg Cultural and Community Center Urmain Dormoy, is calling on residents of St. Peters and surrounding neighbourhoods to decorate their houses and yards in red and join at the back of the parade, which will end at Emilio Wilson Park.

Voices Foundation founder and President Nkosazana Esther Illis encouraged persons to come out in their cultural wear to the manifestation for a picnic and to enjoy traditional food and drinks at the park while enjoying a programme of music, song, dance and arts and crafts "in honour and respect of our ancestors" from 12:00pm. There will be a bouncing castle for children and DJ Wilson will be providing music.

Several persons who are doing "a fantastic job" in the community with their voice will be honoured during the event, Illis said. The official part of the cultural manifestation will start at 4:30pm. The park will close at 8:00pm.