On July 25, children, members of the La Horquetta community and other guests gathered at the La Horquetta Public Library for the Heritage Library Division's African Emancipation Celebration themed: Decolonising the Mind!

NALIS' Executive Director, Paula Greene, delivered the Welcome and Opening Remarks, referencing the iconic words of Bob Marley, "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds." She emphasised that libraries play a vital role in this process, by equipping citizens with the information and resources to challenge misinformation and reclaim their narratives.

Rhoda Patiram, Deputy Permanent Secretary, ably represented Senator the Honourable Dominic Smith, Minister of the Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence. She challenged all to reflect on the legacy of colonialism and its influence on the education and governance systems. She said that in the age of artificial intelligence and digital transformation we must ask ourselves, whose stories are being prioritised, who gets to shape the future and who gets left behind.

Other distinguished speakers included Dr. Asha Kambon, on behalf of the Emancipation Support Committee, and cultural icon Eintou Pearl Springer, who at the event graciously accepted the Library Association of Trinidad and Tobago's (LATT) Excellence Award for her exceptional contributions to librarianship.

Delivering the Feature Address was Dr Claudius Fergus, Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago National Committee on Reparations, who offered thought-provoking insights into the relevance of emancipation.

The event also featured the launch of the exhibition reflecting the programme's theme. This exhibition is open to the public during the library's opening hours, Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Everyone is invited to explore and reflect.