Government has decided to expand activities this year honouring the anniversary of emancipation.

On August 1, 1834, people of African descent were freed from their bondage of slavery in Bermuda and throughout the British Territories as well.

The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs decided to expand the activities earmarked to honour Bermuda?s Emancipation by organising several events about this distinguishing moment in the lives of those Bermudians of African descent.

The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, along with the Emancipation Committee, has worked collaboratively with several other agencies to provide the public with an array of informative, educational, spiritually uplifting and dramatic presentations around the theme ?Honouring Bermuda?s Emancipation?.

The activities planned are as follows:

The Bermuda Friendly Society has organised a Lodge?s March on Friday,July 28, beginning at Magistrates? Court at 6.30 p.m. and culminating on the grounds of the Manchester Unity Hall ? ?home? of the Bermuda Friendly Society Association.

The Warwick Ministerial Alliance has planned a Warwick Community Emancipation Service, Saturday, July 29 at 6.30 p.m. at Warwick Post Office Grounds. This is an ecumenical service with participants from several of the churches in the Warwick community. By having this service on the grounds of the Warwick Post Office it is hoped that the event will serve to remind the public of the significance of this location. It is one place in Bermuda where slaves were buried. In recent times a monument was erected there as a permanent reminder of the importance of that location.

A Service of Praise, Sunday, July 30, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at The Cobb?s Hill Methodist Church in Warwickhas been planned by Rev. Veronica Outerbridge and the members of the Cobb?s Hill congregation.

This edifice, built by slaves, is not only a testament to their courage and determination but also stands as a lasting reminder of their resourcefulness. They were undaunted by many of the restrictive and dehumanising laws designed to define who they were and how they should live, and move. The slaves resolved to erect a place of worship for themselves. Thus this church structure also stands as a permanent ?historical marker? symbolic of the courage of our African ancestors.

?Trial By Fire: Sally Bassett?s Streams of Consciousness?, to be held Tuesday August 1, 2006, at 8 p.m. at Bernard Park, is a dramatic presentation focusing on the last hours in the life of Sally Bassett ? a Bermudian slave woman who has become synonymous with resistance, resilience and courage.

Although it is a work of historical fiction written by Folklife Officer Dr. Kim Dismont Robinson, some of the facts which comprise this work were taken from the actual trial record.

Trial by Fire will also feature a dance excerpt from Bermuda Tapestry,which was choreographed by Conchita Ming. Alan Smith is the Director. This event promises to be most informative, captivating and thought provoking. In the event of rain this event will take place at Victor Scott School at 4 Glebe Road, Pembroke.

All of the events are free