Reports circulating in the international media indicate 12 Caricom countries along with Haiti and Suriname have initiated proceedings to sue three former colonisers, Britain, France and the Netherlands. This is good news for many Blacks in the Caribbean who believe (and justly so) that the heinous practice of slavery must be addressed in a material way. Why should it be addressed? The societies of the mentioned colonisers have benefited from untold wealth which has been acquired as a result of sweat,blood and tears shed our ancestors. It does not matter if slavery was an accepted practice of those times. What matters is that it was a heinous act which has stained history’s page and said page should now reflect those who benefitted most address it!
The region recently appointed Sir Hilary Beckles to head Caricom’s reparations committee. He has not wasted any time lighting a fire under the issue. The committee has secured the services of British law firm Leigh Day whose reputation was enhanced recently when the it won compensation for hundreds of Kenyans arising from the Mau Mau rebellion.
Although there is no official figure given of the repatriations claim a few regional newspapers have suggested £200 billion, the equivalent to the £20 million paid to slave owners in 1834 when slavery was abolished. Prime Minister Ralph Gonzales, the most vocal of regional leaders, stated in a speech to the UN recently that “The awful legacy of these crimes against humanity ought to be repaired for the developmental benefit of our Caribbean societies and all our peoples.”
Although BU agrees with the move to exact reparations there is uncertainty about the approach. We are however hopeful our concerns can be explained.
If Caricom governments are suing for damages over the slavery of our ancestors, should it not be a class action brought by the descendants of the slaves themselves?
If the governments are doing it on behalf of the descendants, and they secure £200 billion damages, will the payment be made to the descendants of the slaves? BU is very interested (and we are getting ahead of ourselves) how any settlement would be distributed. We surely do not want regional politicians to have sole authority on its allocation.
Finally, Sir Hilary who is one of our decorated historians has confirmed many times that our slave ancestors were sold into slavery by their own people in Africa. Does Caricom intend to extend the scope of defendants of the action to include the African states?
Let us get this right!
163 responses to “The Caribbean Advances Claim for Reparations”
@WW
The American primarily (and maybe European) Politicians are NOT interested in anything else BUT $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for their election campaigns. Therefore, if the rich want to exploit cheap Labour in China they condone such and in so doing gifted 9-10 million American jobs to China. These Pols are confident that the American workers are too dumb to see the connection and many will be happy to have access to cheap imported goodies for their shamelessly greedy consumption. SICK BASTARDS ALL!
The price has been and will be enormous!
Regarding Black Cbean Leaders, where are the true statesmanlike Leaders? These Pols are the same or worse than their friends on both sides of the Atlantic! However, be assured that any other emissaries from Nations to the East or West bearing Gold, $$$ and such shall be warmly welcomed BUT will the bounty trickle down to the peeps?
WW, while I am growing older I must not forget to point out that I was NOT extant hundreds of years ago to warn my black friends about the impending, wicked slave trade. The black “Leaders” that benefited then would, like now, not have conducted themselves any differently in selling criminals, prisoners of War etc. Never forget to FOLLOW the $$$$$$$$!
WW, there are several extremely clever African “Leaders”, but how many are providing for their populace?
Money said:
“Regarding Black Cbean Leaders, where are the true statesmanlike Leaders? These Pols are the same or worse than their friends on both sides of the Atlantic! However, be assured that any other emissaries from Nations to the East or West bearing Gold, $$$ and such shall be warmly welcomed BUT will the bounty trickle down to the peeps?”
___________________________
No argument from me there……….
On the other issues, though there are serious……….>LOL!!
“there is no racism between Blacks/ Africans and Chinese. It is a dangerous assumption that actually has NO BASIS in REALITY”
=
Chinese youths are beginning to listen to rap reggae ragga musical gifts from black ghetto youths to the world and are walking and talking like them and trying to dance, DJ’s have been playing the music and they now do chinese cover versions
China is not bad guys as propagated by the devil
US is
UK is sucking up to China acting humble for business
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/oct/14/david-cameron-dalai-lama-george-osborne
Pinkie | October 14, 2013 at 8:53 AM |
WHAT ABOUT THE JEWS? The holocaust lasted from 1933-45. It was legal in Germany was it not? Yet after the holocaust there was a Reparations Agreement which was signed between Israel and West Germany in September 1952.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Absolute joke!!
I don’t believe premeditated mass murder was ever legal in Germany.
Watch WWII footage about the discovery of death camps and you will realize it was a secret kept even from the German people.
The perpetrators knew it was wrong, … and also illegal too.
That’s why many went into hiding. Their shame was exposed.
…. but let’s stay with the holocaust for a moment and the reparations paid to victims by the German State.
Do you notice the difference …. the victims were alive!!
… and what happens when the last Nazi is gone.
Just google what happens when the last Nazi is gone and see what you find as the answer.
There is no way the reparations paid to the victims of the holocaust immediately after the war can be used to justify reparations for slavery almost 200 years after its abolition …. totally ridiculous logic.
Uncle Ralf’s lot would be idiots to use this example.
They would be laughed out of court.
They are chasing duppies!!
If they proceed as is described herein I would have to officially ask that my name be specifically removed from whatever lawsuit they may bring on behalf of the peoples of the Caribbean.
Utter rubbish with which I cannot identify and I am a direct descendant of slaves in Barbados.
I repeat, look for the good and use it to glorify God’s name and his works.
Barbados has a special place in that story which our historians seem incapable of telling.
That is why I believe the name Wilberforce is not present on the Barbados landscape after slavery except for the naming of a few slaves.
The most I have been able to find in Barbados is The Buxton School in Green Hill.
But the names of the men and women and their beliefs can be found all over Barbados.
It is surprising the Historians have not figured it out yet!!
The whole of Barbados is a World Heritage site.
@WW
White racists are very insular and dislike all races besides whites BUT typically hate white Jews, even Catholics if their group are not such, whites like me who are friendly or married to other races etc. They love to HATE!
Some just consider themselves Superior but not just racially—-class, educationally and many other variables that they believe justifies their view,
WW, whites alive today have had absolutely no personal exposure to the Slave Trade. They might have watched Roots or some other account.
Many white people in Nth America and Europe hardly ever interact with/ meet other races unless they are in certain urban settings. In Nth AM such people are likely to form a view based on the TV News which may have negative tinge because of crime or positive aspect because of darker actors like Will Smith, Morgan Freeman, Denzil Washington et al.
I was a tad surprised at an elderly white Plantocrat Bajan lady who told me how much she enjoyed Will Smith on Fresh Prince,I did’nt think she would watch him or express her approval openly.
@KIKI
It is always the youth that act to bridge sociological gaps. This may bode well for the distant future BUT commonsense dictates that the current leadership are keen to enrich themselves (and maybe their people) first and foremost and there are a gargantuan quantity of them 1,300,000,000+. Africans and Africa are only relevant as a resource local.
Moral and Legal Case needs to be lodged in Court for the record, (and Published on Internet and In a Book)
If Case gets struck out, it needs to be appealed against and taken to High Court, Supreme Court.
Legal record of immoral repugnant behaviour will be placed as evidence to rectify whitewash and slave apologists
Freemasons run Courts but have to look at charges made.
Time will decide in History Law Books of UK covering misdeeds and crimes
http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2013/08/16/reparations-for-slavery-can-a-claim-be-sustained/
“It is always the youth that act to bridge sociological gaps. This may bode well for the distant future BUT commonsense dictates that the current leadership are keen to enrich themselves (and maybe their people) first and foremost and there are a gargantuan quantity of them 1,300,000,000+. Africans and Africa are only relevant as a resource local”
=
Young Adults are moving abroad working settling in communities without prejudice already
why want reparations, you have owned the island for years now …sell it… divide the money amongst who you deem entitled, Whats it worth ? You got it for free. Maybe china could buy it. Mel Gibson, johnny depp, richard branscomb, own one larry Ellison has a Hawaiian island with 3500 inhabitants, the list goes on. Trinidad or guyanna may be looking for a summer home or a penal colony..
@KIKI
Agreed, young people of every race tend to be like that.
It does NOT change the validity of any of my warnings. Although it is a step in the right direction.
lawson | October 14, 2013 at 1:42 PM |
why want reparations, you have owned the island for years now …sell it… divide the money amongst who you deem entitled,
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Done already and money spent!!
More is now required.
Money…………….total idiocy still prevails, mankind will never learn.
In an update today re the US shutdown, the Chinese stated and i quote “because of the pernicious state of the US shutdown, the world needs to become de-americanized and a new centralized currency introduced.” They currently hold 3.5 trillion dollars of America’s debt, talk about calling the shots. I hope the leaders in the Caribbean understand the ramifications of such utterings.
Please continue to post HERE.