A NEW international outlook, greater emphasis on promotion, small business and an entrepreneurial spirit will all play important parts during this year’s celebration of Emancipation Day and leading up to it.

Emancipation Support Committee chairman Khafra Kambon was enthusiastic about planned events prior to Emancipation Day on August 1. But he felt the lack of financial support for the celebrations meant not enough appreciation for what could be gained for Trinidad and Tobago—in both people-consciousness and education, as well as business and foreign revenue.

It would take $2 million to create Emancipation celebrations worthy of the name, Kambon said at a news conference on Thursday.

What money it got came from individuals, corporate sponsors, shows and fund-raising ventures, as well as $70,000 from the Government.

He pointed out that Ghana’s Emancipation Festival, begun after Ghanian President Jerry Rawlings witnessed the ceremonies in Trinidad in 1997, had become an elaborate festival, widely promoted internationally. It brought Ghana to the world’s attention as a place to visit and invest in.

He explained that from next year the Emancipation Support Committee would begin jointly-sponsoring Emancipation Day with Ghana.

This year’s Emancipation programme includes a series of lectures, which has already begun, and a dinner jointly-planned by the Emancipation Committee and the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce.

It was announced that this year the Emancipation parade on July 28 would begin early in the morning, with participants assembling at the Brian Lara Promenade, Port of Spain between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m.

For further information, interested parties can get in touch with the Emancipation Committee’s headquarters at 5B Bergerac Road, Maraval. Call 868-628-5008, or e-mail esctt@africana.com.