MAIDSTONE, Manchester — Member of Parliament for Manchester North Western Mikael Phillips says the annual Emancipation Day celebration here dubbed ‘Fus A Augus’ exceeded expectations with hundreds of people gathering here on historic grounds.

Maidstone is widely recognised for its historical value and holds rich promise as a heritage-based tourist destination.

Crucially, in 1838 when slavery ended in Jamaica, Maidstone was among the first communities to be set up as a free village.

“This is the first free village in the parish of Manchester, so we develop this activity around Emancipation. This is where the slaves when they were freed settled, so it is an important event for us in the community of Maidstone,” Phillips told the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday.

Maidstone boasts artefacts and relics dating back to the height of slavery and British colonialism. Records of plantation society show that the Maidstone plantation at one point had 65 slaves. Adjoining communities also had plantations and slaves: Glen Head had 77; Mons, 170; Johns Hall, 170; Huntley, 124; and Bath 13.

The Fus A Augus event held at the Nazareth All-Age School saw patrons being entertained by artistes, namely Nadine Sutherland, Christopher Martin and Tony Rebel.

“The event exceeded our expectations. This is an annual event, it has just been growing from strength to strength. The event is sponsored with funds from the [Tourism Product Development Company], Constituency Development Fund and 100 per cent of the proceeds from this goes to the community council. They use it to maintain the [Maidstone] Museum that was built in 2015 and then they do projects within the community from it,” Phillips explained.

Phillips, who recently called on Jamaicans to embrace their heritage by commemorating historic dates, was pleased with the support and turnout of locals and tourists in Maidstone, close to 12 miles north-west of Mandeville.

“You have returning residents, visitors from overseas, people as far as St Elizabeth are here and other parts of Manchester. My heart is full to see the turnout and the support in a small community like Maidstone,” said Phillips.

“We had a kumina team, dinki mini, maypole. Real African culture was showcased. We had everything for the children… to just come and enjoy a culture around Emancipation in a place where people were emancipated, a free village means a lot to us here in north-west Manchester, Maidstone,” he added.