Prime Minister and Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Philip J. Pierre says the work of emancipation remains unfinished, arguing that true freedom must include economic opportunity, food security and prosperity for Caribbean people.

In his 2026 Emancipation Day message, Pierre said political freedom alone was not enough, stressing that Caribbean people deserved economies that created wealth, rewarded hard work and offered opportunities for future generations.

“Political freedom alone is not enough. Our people deserve economic freedom. They deserve opportunity. They deserve ownership. They deserve prosperity,” he said.

Pierre said the region must build economies where young people see opportunities at home, entrepreneurs can succeed, and farmers, fishers and manufacturers are valued.

He also linked food and energy security to what he described as the “unfinished journey of emancipation”, saying no nation could be truly secure if it could not feed itself or provide affordable, reliable and cleaner energy.

Reflecting on the legacy of slavery, Pierre said Emancipation Day was a reminder that freedom had been won through sacrifice rather than granted voluntarily.

“Freedom was never handed to our ancestors. Freedom was demanded. Freedom was fought for. Freedom was paid for with sacrifice, with courage and with an unbreakable faith,” he said.

Pierre noted that formerly enslaved people entered freedom “without land, without wealth, without compensation, without opportunity”, while those who benefited from their labour were rewarded.

He maintained that the pursuit of reparations was “not about blame, not about revenge”, but about truth and justice for the suffering caused by slavery.

Speaking as both Prime Minister of Saint Lucia and Chairman of CARICOM, Pierre called on Caribbean people to continue building a more just, united and prosperous region.

He urged citizens to honour the sacrifices of their ancestors by creating societies that offered greater opportunity for future generations.