May 28, 1848: Official date of the abolition of slavery in Saint-Martin

This Emancipation Day was commemorated during an official ceremony this afternoon at our local symbol, the statue of Lady Liberty in Agrément, in the presence of officials and personalities of the territory and representatives of the neighboring islands of Anguilla and Sint Maarten. Our history and destinies are closely linked and we were honored to share in this historic commemoration.

Through their strong and benevolent speeches, the territorial elected officials and the State representative were able to remind us how our past is decisive in our common history and makes our territories what they are today. Freedom is a precious asset that we must cherish and preserve every day.

Many thanks to the groups of dancers, counters, singers and musicians, who, thanks to their multiple talents, accurately retraced the history of Saint-Martin in the 19th century, and transmitted the emotions of the past to the audience.