People are being urged to maintain the spirit shown during the weekend’s anti-slavery celebrations — and continue fighting to free millions of modern day slaves.

On Sunday, hundreds of people packed out two major events to mark the 200th anniversary of the Slave Trade Act, which signalled the beginning of the end of slavery in the British Empire including Bermuda.

During the day, the Anglican Church of Bermuda announced a resolution declaring its “deep regret” for its involvement in the slave trade.

Campaigners at Anti Slavery International are now stressing the importance for people to keep supporting their campaign for governments across the world to take action to free more than 12 million modern day slaves.

Meanwhile, support in Bermuda is continuing to grow for The Royal Gazette’s Break The Chains campaign, which backs Anti-Slavery International’s on-line petition.

Anti Slavery International spokeswoman Beth Herzfeld commended the actions on the Island but reminded people that more needed to be done.

“We are very excited that so many people in Bermuda are getting involved and have joined us in our Fight For Freedom campaign,” she said.

“The voices of people in Bermuda are very important as we aim to spread our message about the effects of slavery in the past and modern day slavery. For us, the whole year of 2007 is an important opportunity to draw peoples attention to the bicentenary and everything it means. The petition will be on-line all year, and we are calling for people to take action for the year and beyond.”

She said plans were underway to set up a major celebration on the International Day for the Remembrance of Slavery on August 23.

Social Rehabilitation Minister Dale Butler, who made a speech at an event at Commissioner’s House on Sunday, applauded the Anglican Church of Bermuda’s resolution — but called for the Church to go further. “The Anglican Church’s admission of guilt was well accepted and long overdue. It’s something I thought I would never see,” said Mr. Butler.

“I would like to see them take it further and come forward with some kind of compensation in terms of scholarships for youths. This country is in desperate need of medicine.

“I would like to see the Anglican Church commit itself to five scholarships.

“I’m not caning them singularly. I felt very encouraged by the Bishop’s speech. Then came this pardon, and I wanted to hear them to take it to its next step.”

He added: “Another step would be for other groups and organisations that benefited from the slave trade to follow suit and offer an apology.”

Mr. Butler said he had signed the on-line petition supported by Break The Chains. Speaking about the campaign, he said: “I think that’s another first. The Royal Gazette <$>never really showed much of a consideration for this kind of thing in the past.

“The Royal Gazette stand has made the subject of slavery more palatable. Previously, people were saying: ‘It’s the past, get over it.’ Now it’s the best time for all groups to find out about the subject, and not hide it under the steps. It is time to develop more paperwork for the schools to use. There’s a tremendous amount of information out there. There was the tragedy that free people were made slaves, that they were brought here, and then there was emancipation. A lot more research needs to be done, but we are headed in the right direction.”

More than 18,700 people have signed the petition so far. To add your name, go to www.antislavery.org/2007/actionsign and fill in your details.

To comment on Break The Chains, call 278-0153 or e-mail tsmith[AT]royalgazette.bm