The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) says the nation must draw inspiration from the struggles of its African-Guyanese forebears as it takes steps to advance development.

In its message to honour the 170th anniversary of the abolition of slavery the PPP said Emancipation Day is one of the most important anniversaries on its calendar as the “tremendous struggles by our fore-parents to put an end to slavery constitute some of the most heroic pages in the history of Guyana.”

In a press release the party said too that the 1763 uprising was significant because it was “the beginning of the end of the slave system in our region. That struggle triggered many others in the Caribbean, the most successful being the Haitian revolution of 1791-1803.”

The PPP said it is a happy coincidence that this year’s celebrations are taking place on the eve of its congress which will be held under the theme ‘Strengthen the Party; Secure the Nation; Accelerate Development.’