Caricom Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett has said that reparations from Europe for the crimes against humanity: of native genocide, the trans-Atlantic trade in enslaved Africans, and chattel enslavement in the Region, are a priority for Caricom Heads of Government.
The Secretary-General spoke via a video message at the ACCRA Reparations Conference, convened on Tuesday at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel in Accra, Ghana. The Conference is intended to facilitate meaningful discussions and knowledge sharing among experts, policymakers, academics and stakeholders on the topic of reparations for historical injustices such as colonialism, apartheid, and slavery. The theme of the Conference is “Building a United Front to Advance the Cause of Justice and the Payment of Reparations to Africans”.
Moving the reparations justice agenda forward
In her message, Dr Barnett emphasised that Caricom Heads of Government agree that collaboration with Africa on reparations is critical to moving the reparations justice agenda further forward.
“They have expressed their full support for the convening of the Accra Reparations Conference as a strategic and prime opportunity to forge a common collaborative agenda between the Caribbean and Africa on reparations”, the Secretary-General stated.
She explained that, in this context, Caricom welcomes the update that the African Union is also seeking to develop a common position on reparations, and a roadmap for future collaboration with the African diaspora on reparatory justice.
“The Accra Reparations Conference is therefore timely to facilitate dialogue on the reparations agenda,” Dr Barnett added.
Caricom–AU cooperation
Recent meetings of Caricom Heads of Government have tabled important proposals for cooperation with the African Union on reparations.
“They would welcome collaboration to co-sponsor a resolution on reparations at the United Nations, to signal our joint commitment and our position that reparatory justice ought to receive due consideration by the United Nations”, underscored Dr Barnett.
International Court of Justice
Further, she highlighted that Heads of Government propose to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice through the United Nations General Assembly.
“We invite the African Union to join us in this campaign”, stated the Secretary-General. “We are also working to have reparations included on the agenda of key meetings of intergovernmental bodies. We hope that we can establish appropriate mechanisms to facilitate cooperation on reparations between Caricom and Africa, including the proposed joint Caricom-African Union Committee of Legal Experts,” she detailed.
Dr Barnett has said that Caricom welcomes the establishment and excellent advocacy, consultative and research initiatives of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, and anticipates deepening collaboration with this body, which includes two distinguished Caricom representatives.
Deepening cooperation
She shared that Caricom-Africa cooperation has increased in several areas following the first Caricom-Africa Summit of Heads of Government, held in September 2021.
“Afri-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forums have been held in Barbados and Guyana in 2022 and 2023 respectively. The AU-ECOSOCC Study Tour on Reparations was held in Barbados in July 2023.
The Caribbean Community has also participated in the Reparations and Racial Healing Summit in August 2022 in Ghana, and welcomes the increased focus on the return of stolen cultural property to both the Caribbean and Africa,” emphasised the Secretary-General.
She concluded by urging stakeholders to seize the moment and ensure that Caricom, Africa, and others from the diaspora speak with one voice to advance the just and strong call for reparations for the crimes against humanity of native genocide, the trans-Atlantic trade in enslaved Africans, and chattel enslavement.
The Caricom 10-Point Plan for Reparatory Justice also ‘asserts that European Governments Instructed genocidal actions upon indigenous communities”.
Attending the Conference were the legal experts, policymakers, academics and stakeholders from the Caribbean Region, Reparations Commissions-Americas and the Caribbean, the UN System, California Reparations Task Force, African Civil Society organisations, and Regional Economic Communities of African Union (AU). Member States and diaspora focal points are attending the Conference, which will conclude on 17 November.
Meanwhile, back in September, the descendants of slave owner John Gladstone – who had enslaved over 2500 persons during tumultuous times here – offered a former apology for the actions of their ancestors, but President Dr Irfaan Ali has maintained that an apology must include compensation and reparative justice.
The President welcomed the Gladstone heirs’ apology and stated that it is the first step in the process of reparative justice, and moreso an acknowledgment of the cruel nature of African enslavement and indentureship in Guyana, as well as an act of contrition that paves the way for justice.
The President added that the Gladstone family has already admitted that it benefitted from African enslavement and indentureship on the Demerara and other plantations owned by its patriarch, and has agreed to undertake certain actions.
“I therefore propose that the intended apology include issues of compensation, reparative justice, and those involved to be posthumously charged for crimes against humanity,” he declared.
The Caribbean Reparations Committee’s 10-point plan for reparations offers a roadmap toward dismantling the barriers that persist. It calls, inter alia, for an unconditional apology; and investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and cultural revitalization – an investment not only in the present, but also in the future, ensuring future generations are unshackled from the chains of history.
