The public is invited to view an exhibition on the transatlantic trade in Africans, and purchase recently released postage stamps highlighting the abolition of the trade.

The activities, to be held at the Sovereign Centre on Saturday, July 28, are part of the continuing thrust of the Jamaica National Bicentenary Committee (JNBC), to highlight the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic trade in Africans to Jamaica. Festivities begin at 10:00 a.m. and continue until 6:00 p.m.

As part of the event, postage stamps and philatelic souvenirs, books and art will be on sale. Films and documentaries on slavery may be viewed, while leading authors will be available for book signing. The 'edutainment' package will showcase music by Mutabaruka and beats by the Kingston Drummers.

Speakers include Professor Verene Shepherd, chairman of the JNBC.

Miss Jamaica Universe 2007, Zahra Redwood, will be on spot to open the exhibition, and Dr. Orville Taylor, UWI lecturer and media commentator, will officially launch a publication entitled Freedom Delayed. A compact, exercise book-size pamphlet, Freedom Delayed was produced by the JNBC with sponsorship from the CHASE Fund as well as publishers Ian Randle and UNESCO. It provides relevant educational materials for schools with information on aspects of slavery and even includes excerpts of the Abolition Act, and thus should be well appreciated by students and their teachers.

The Ministry of Education will assist in distributing these to secondary schools throughout Jamaica. For further information, please phone the JNBC Secretariat at 970-4441.

The abolition postage stamps are available at all post offices; the philatelic souvenirs can be sourced at the Central Sorting Office, as well as the following post offices: Liguanea, Norman Manley International Airport, Ocho Rios, Falmouth and Montego Bay #1.