Jamaican news

Stamp to Mark 200th Anniversary of Abolition of Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Launched
KINGSTON (JIS)

Sunday, June 10, 2007

The Postal Corporation of Jamaica has launched a commemorative stamp to mark the bicentenary anniversary of the abolition of the trans-Atlantic trade in enslaved Africans.

The stamp, which is available to the public at a cost of $30, bears the picture of a dove to symbolize peace, the map of Jamaica and a ship, in reference to the slaves' forced journey to this part of the world. Minister of State for Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, Senator Kern Spencer, who was the guest speaker at the launching ceremony held recently at the Central Sorting Office in Kingston, expressed his pleasure at the creation of the stamp.

He said that as Jamaicans, "it is only fitting that we seek to commemorate this historic occasion and to heighten consciousness throughout the island about the transatlantic slave trade and its abolition 200 years ago", noting that estimates indicate that Jamaica accounted for approximately 1 million of the 15 million Africans forcefully brought to this part of the world during the period of slavery.

The stamp, he noted further "should serve as a reminder of our past and a tremendous moment in our history, with both negatives and positives."

For her part, Minister of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, Aloun Assamba said that "the design and production of the commemorative stamp launched today is Jamaican property, which can stand up to any other in the world."

In the meantime, Professor Verene Shepherd, chairperson of the Jamaica National Bicentenary Committee, said that the move to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slavery trade should not be taken lightly and commended the "media houses, government agencies, institutions and private sector companies that are helping us to spread knowledge about our past and the struggles of our ancestors."

She informed that in addition to the postage stamp, commemorative T-shirts and mugs are also available to mark the bicentenary anniversary. The T-shirts cost $500.