Government has pledged $20,000 to help ship a Middle Passage monument to Bermuda.

The statue — a tribute to millions of slaves who died crossing the ocean during the Transatlantic Slave Trade — is expected to be brought to the Island in the next few weeks from St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands.

It will serve as a reminder of how the world has been plagued by slavery throughout history.

Cultural Affairs Minister Wayne Perinchief has written to organisers the Emperial Group following a presentation they made earlier this month.

"It was a pleasure to be presented with information about the Middle Passage monument built for Bermuda," wrote Mr. Perinchief. His letter said the Ministry would also help spread information about the project's launch. Members of the Emperial Group are planning to head out to St. Croix to see the 15-foot stainless steel structure and speak to children at the school which has taken care of it for the past few years.

While overseas, they will finalise arrangements to ship it, e in time for next year's Grand Slam of Golf. A permanent location on the Island has yet to be decided.

It is a replica of one which was lowered to the bottom of the Atlantic eight years ago, in a ceremony which attracted international attention.

It has been stored in St. Croix for years while organisers have waited for the appropriate moment to bring it to the Island.

So far more than 37,000 people have signed Anti-Slavery International's on-line petition demanding governments take action to free more than 12 million slaves across the world. To add your name to the list, visit www.antislavery.org/2007/actionsign and fill in your details.

Have you signed the petition? If so, tell The Royal Gazette why by calling 278-8358 or e-mailing tsmith@royalgazette.bm. Where do you think the Middle Passage monument should go? Send your ideas to the same e-mail address.