Dr Draper added that the database’s findings may have implications for the “reparations debate”. Barbados is currently leading the way in calling for reparations from former colonial powers for the injustices suffered by slaves and their families
There was the revelation on the weekend that UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s slave owning ancestors were among other wealthy families who received repatriation payments in the millions of pounds when converted to today’s value. It seems ironic that these families would have encountered no significant roadblocks to get compensation for participating in the heinous act of slavery BUT those who are descendants of slaves are ignored by Britain which to this day continues to benefit from wealth earned from slavery and we (Barbados) continue suck salt.
There are the apologists who will proffer the rebuttal that this was a time when to own slaves was not regarded as a wrong, in fact it was institutionalized. It is the same explanation which Christians offer to explain why slavery was part of a way of life described in the Bible. Some also argue that It is also explains why the French exacted millions from Haiti.
It is the height of insensitivity shown to our ancestors by a predominantly Black country that Barbados refuses to engage in a rich debate about exacting reparations from countries which engaged in slavery. The irony is that Prime Minister Cameron and others of his ilk now occupy authority positions in governments and are able to levy APD taxes etc to the detriment of Barbados. Some things never change.
Read the startling revelation on The Independent website
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