from PLP Chair Dawn Simmons

My fellow Bermudians,

This Cup Match is a celebration of who we are, where we’ve been, and the promise of where we are going.

We celebrate Emancipation. We honor our heroes who stood with courage, who pushed through struggle, and who laid the foundation for our freedom. 

We celebrate Mary Prince. We honor a woman of courage who exposed the savagery, degradation and injustice experienced by enslaved Africans and changed the world.

We celebrate our Friendly Societies, who led the Cup Match charge, organized the first “official” Cup Match and provided the colors representing our teams till this day.

We gather family, friends, neighbors, on beaches, boats and porches, in back yards Crown & Anchor tents and camps, to rejoice in a culture as vibrant as it is resilient.

Let us remember that Cup Match is about more than the Game. It's about honoring a legacy of a people who after suffering through the brutality of bondage, defied authority to create a celebration of our freedom in our own way and without the consent or approval of our oppressors.  

So whether you’re Somerset or St. George’s, we are all a part of a beautiful tradition rooted in justice, joy, and the unbreakable bonds of our shared history.

Be safe. Celebrate responsibly. 

Happy Cup Match, Bermuda.