Caribbean Seeking Compensation For Slavery

July 26, 2013

“Leaders of more than a dozen Caribbean countries are launching a united effort to seek compensation from three European nations for what they say is the lingering legacy of the Atlantic slave trade,” the Associated Press reports.

Their report said the Caribbean Community has taken up the cause of compensation for slavery and is preparing for what would likely be a drawn-out battle with the governments of Britain, France and the Netherlands.

CAROCOM has enlisted the help of a prominent British human rights law firm and is creating a Reparations Commission to press the issue. Leaders from the 14 Caricom nations voted unanimously at a meeting in Trinidad to wage a joint campaign.

A statement from CARICOM said they agreed on follow-up action on the matter of reparations for slavery.

Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer said he conceptualized the call for reparations as an integral element of the Community’s development strategy saying “The legacy of slavery and colonialism in the Caribbean severely impaired the Region’s development options.”

“We know that our constant search and struggle for development resources is linked directly to the historical inability of our nations to accumulate wealth from the efforts of our peoples during slavery and colonialism.

“These nations that have been the major producers of wealth for the European slave-owning economies during the enslavement and colonial periods entered Independence with dependency straddling their economic, cultural, social and even political lives”, Prime Minister Spencer said.

Reparations, he added, had to be directed toward repairing the damage inflicted by slavery and racism.

“We, as political leaders, must encourage our various reparation agencies to continue the education of our Caribbean people and our Diaspora, and enhance their awareness of the reparations issue,” said the Prime Minister.

“It is important that there is solid people and multi-party support for our efforts and we must impress on our colleagues in both Government and Opposition that this is not an issue we should use as party-politics fodder.

“Our various reparation organizations must see the forging of bi-partisan political support and civil society consensus for reparations as one of their main objectives,” the Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister added.

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  1. ABM says:

    Interesting. Wonder if Bermuda can join in on this initiative?

    So far this worded for both the Native Americans and the Jewish nation, prob won’t work for us Blacks. Though I am all for it!!!!

    • Mazumbo says:

      Would be nice but Bermudians are to passive. We’ve got de Johnny Barns syndrome , smile ,be nice and have a nice day. LMAO

      • Enoch says:

        Is this a bad joke?

        Can we all go after the Italians because of what the Romans did? Those Vikings too, In fact I’ve not been able to get a job because of what the Vikings did, can’t get over it.

        Stop feeling sorry for yourselves and do something. Pathetic handouts aren’t the answer, look at the native Americans, riddled with drugs and obsessed with gambling.

    • Rastus Johnson says:

      reparations as an integral element of the Community’s development strategy saying “The legacy of slavery and colonialism in the Caribbean severely impaired the Region’s development options.”
      So reparations are now considered “community development” funds?? You people are beyond belief. …

    • Mazubo says:

      I wonder why Portugal is not in that list

      • Out of flight says:

        A lot of countries are missing: Denmark….need I go on.

  2. National Capatilist Party says:

    No Bermuda should not join this welfare, hand out, lazfiying initiative this will not help us only lull us to sleep, we need our own industry, culture, and governmental unification, I envision a unified diaspora under a Federal United Nations of Africa with the power to issue its own currency, and solve its own problems like corrupt leaders, who would lead their countries into “reparations” then pocket half the money and send the other half into family and friends.
    NCP

    • James says:

      errant nonsense!!!!

    • Rastus Johnson says:

      You mean like the currency of Zimbabwe? Where they killed all the whiteys and now the peeps be starving to death and their money is worth less than toilet paper?

      • National Capatilist Party says:

        No not that clown, Im talking about the Gold Dinar the plan Gaddafi was about to implement before Libya was invaded, before his convoy was hit by US missiles and before he was assassinated by US Europe Canada NATO backed, armed, and supplied “rebels” “freedom Fighters” “Popular Up risers”.

    • Mazubo says:

      Corrupt leaders like the Oligarchy

  3. The Ombudsman makes a statement and says:

    im wondering what would be fair…1 million dollars per family???

    • Sandy Bottom says:

      And where exactly will this money come from, just so I understand it?

      My family will be buying a Ferrari with our $1m.

  4. Bermuda Cat says:

    I look forward to see how this issue plays out.

  5. Sandgrownan says:

    I presume that Caricom will also be approaching Rome and Canterbury and other peddlers of the Christianity cult? After all, the moral justification and “warrant” for hatred, racism and slavery is rooted firmly in the Old Testament. Remember, the traders and colonialists all believed they had God on their side.

    This hideous trade was also triangular, I presume that Caricom will be approaching the descendants of West African leaders who willingly participated?

    • Future says:

      That you use the word trade betrays ignorance. There is no evidence of any widespread participation from “West African Leaders”. This is another ploy to help white people – the same people who say they did nothing and are not to be blamed for anything their ancestors did – get over their guilt complex. I suggest knowledge rather than ignorance. Sincerity rather than guilt.

  6. Real says:

    Maybe there own people that sold them should pay!!!

    • Future says:

      Lies.

    • d.o. says:

      that would be novel

    • Mazubo says:

      Our own people are not benefitting from centuries of old money that has been keeping the white generations stable

      • Sandy Bottom says:

        My people didn’t benefit either. So I’m hoping I get a million dollars too. Fantastic! Where is the money coming from, by the way?

  7. DarkSideofTheMoon says:

    This is such a waste of time. I would say I hope that Bermuda doesn’t join this initiative, but I would be SHOCKED of the current government entertained this, so nothing to worry about.

  8. Harold Godwinson says:

    I am all for this initiative. My relatives were treated very badly by the Normans and Vikings in the 11th century and it is about time that the Scandinavians and French paid up.

  9. Malachi says:

    What about the Aliens that abducted and brain-washed our people??

    …we need to go after these guys!

  10. Bermudian says:

    All walks of life have been treated badly. We need to be made accountable for our actions today and not use the past as an excuse for our failures in life. I would be on board with this if we didn’t live in a civilized world, but too many years have passed where all nations have had the chance to use their knowledge to evolve and prosper. Your actions TODAY are YOURS.

    • Tommy Chong says:

      Civilized world?

      I would love to see you explain this one to someone who has lost a loved one to a falling bomb in Iraq or someone mutilated by warlords in Africa or someone in Central America who just 20 years ago was a witness to death squads piling up bodies in the street just to have new bloody drug war introduced after the death squads by their neighbors north of the border terrorize their country up to present times.

      The evil of men never stops it just changes & keeps going leaving those afflicted to struggle for the generations to come. You can’t evolve & prosper when those who prospered first stand on your shoulders.

  11. Victor says:

    Being a strong believer of seven generations, the sins of the fathers and all that stuff, I am very sympathetic to the frustrations of those too often taken for granted by the affluent and powerful. If this initiative for redress, reconciliation and acknowledgement is handled properly, which means honestly and transparently, then it is a good thing. The great danger is that it turns into just another hustle by self-serving, dishonest politicians, in which case it will just perpetuate evil. A development trust fund run by a respected international person would be a way to go – George Soros has my vote, especially in view of all the good work he has already done in Africa (especially bringing down the Steinmetz sham in Guinea).

  12. hmmm says:

    Does anyone know of any other culture/country getting money for something that happened centuries ago? WOuld this be the first time?
    Did the irish get anything from England after 700 plus years of conflict.Warsaw? French? Indians? The holocaust?

    • Sandgrownan says:

      Well arguably, the potato famine was caused by them forgetting where they planted them, but i guess not? The Sweaties/English, Chinese/Japanese etc.

      The Mediterranean/North African slave trade was rooted in Islam, the middel eastern trade was tribal in nature justified by dubious religious texts.

      Meh…Caricom is barking up the wrong tree….

      • Tommy Chong says:

        To be exact the islamic nomads were the wholesalers in the African slave trade. Rival African tribes were the suppliers of the slaves to the islamic nomads who sold them to the retailers the European ship captains & sailors who then sold them to the end user the European Colonialists. I do get your point though that there are more than Europeans to blame for African Slavery during the times of European Colonial Conquest.

        I feel if anyone should recompense for this slavery on topic it should be the families colonialists that profited from the direct use of slaves. This seems fair to me since the colonialist’s families still reap the interests of old money gained through slavery & are the ones who families are at fault for the struggle & mistreatment the landed slaves & their future families went through.

        • Sandgrownan says:

          Fair point, although, you’ll be taking from one and giving to the other based on an accident of birth. Your other points are well taken however.

    • Tommy Chong says:

      The North American Natives have been given land but not the best & free food that’s mostly processed garbage. I think some of the Jews may have been given compensation but nothing significant that equals what they went through.

      Maybe if all the civilizations that had been wrongly done were properly compensated we wouldn’t have had years of terrorism & gang violence. Just Maybe.

      Then again the league of nations forcing Germany to compensate them for the first world war that was fully justified by Germany lead to resentment & a second unjustified war by Germany. I guess this shows that if any compensation is done much thought should be taken on who should be compensated & who should compensate them.

    • I'm just sayin... says:

      Well since you bring it up, yes England paid reparations worth some 200 billion in todays $$ to slave owners after slavery was abolished.

    • Future says:

      Haiti finished paying the modern day equivalent of $21 billion to France (crooks) in 1925. There are people born in 1925 that are still alive.

  13. Terry says:

    This is a joke right?

  14. I'm just sayin... says:

    “Entitlement? One is entitled to not be robbed. One is not entitled to rob. To want and fight for reparation is to want and fight for justice, for one and all. To not fight for reparation is to condone the self-proclaimed entitlement of the robbers, and to condone their crimes. I stole from you but you are now free to earn some of it back, following my rules…?”

  15. hmmm says:

    Yes i don;t think this shows wisdom by asking for compensation. There are active philanthropist ie Bill Gates and many others that raise millions and billions every year to give away to poorer countries and to fight diseases etc.
    Many celebrities have their own charities such as matt damon with his water projects and on and on and on.
    This sounds like a blame game, blaming someone for something that happened when they were not even born.
    I have heard of a lady whos grandfather did something negative in the civil rights movement. Every year she chooses to march with civil rights leaders to show that her family has moved on. She doesnt do this because someone is making her, she does it because she feels it is the right thing to do.
    If someone wants to do something allow them to do it on their own accord.
    This is just ridiculous if someone wanted to take me to court for something my great great great great grandfather did I would think something is wrong with them.
    This is just an embarassing statement for the world. Wish ppl would grow up. This is not the way for cultures to act around the table people dont come together like this, what they are blaming someone of they are unconsciously doing it themselves.

    • James says:

      Are you f’in kidding me with that garbage?

    • Future says:

      Gates is securing future dollars for pennies by securing resources on the cheap. And promoting genocide in a pretty package called family planning. Reminds me of the Bermuda govt in the 20s tabling legislation for mandatory sterilization of black people. Yes there are people from the 20s still alive too….

    • Whistling Frog says:

      @hmmm:Well think of all the people born after these atrocities of their forefathers who gained such wealth from it. My mother and aunts that are still living have passed on the stories from their grand and great grand parents to my generation who will continue to pass on the history. There are some people that would love for the history of others to be well forgotten.

  16. Anti****Brigade says:

    Another give me dat from the — of the world. Instead of constantly blaming YT for all your problems why not try actually doing something about it yourself.

    In addition it was sub Saharan Africans that sold their own people to Europeans and middle easterners.

    —–

  17. 179 years after slavery was abolished by the UK Govt some of the members of CARICOM decide to seek reparations. The unfortunate thing is that the European nations are all near bankrupt now

  18. pebblebeach says:

    Pure garbage…good luck with that

  19. Sandman says:

    The way to calculate the damages would be to look at the quality of life of descendants of West Africans who were enslaved, compared to the quality of life of the descendants of West Africans who were not enslaved. Average earnings of black Bermudians (nothwithstanding that many blacks also have slave-OWNING ancestors) is around $50,000 if I recall. Average earnings of West Africans – probably around $1,000.

    So the damages are, err, hang on, negative $49,000 per year.

  20. Vulpes says:

    Baldwin Spencer was the guest speaker at the PLP party convention last October. He ranted on about the posters to this site and the horrible (in his mind) things being

  21. Vulpes says:

    sorry… said about the Cog. I would not trust this guy with my money.

  22. Alvin Williams says:

    Of all the countries in the Western hemisphere who should be first in line to recieve any form of compensation for slavery; I would like to see Haiti be that country. The first black republic whose slave population fought for and won it’s freedom from it’s French slave owners.
    The second country behind that of the United States to declare itself an
    independent nation in the Western hemisphere. But instead of being accepted as a brother nation; it was subject to a grievous boycott and black listing by the slave owning nations of the day which included Britian; France and the United States iself along with the Dutch. This was all the more a great treachery on the part of the United States because without the brave resistence of the Haitian people led by thier great leader Toussaint I Ouverture who not only defeated Napoleon the French leader at the time along with thier British allies who attempted to reinstate slavery in Haiti; but the most important thing in regard to America; this defeat of Napoleon at the hands of the Haitian people force him to sell the French territory of Louisiana to America at a cheap price because Napoleon war in Haiti had bankrupt the French state.
    Haiti’s history as the first black free slave state has condemn it to become the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere and the Frech to thier ever lasting perfidiousness force Haiti to pay compensation for the lost of it’s slave economy and property which Haiti only settle in the early 1950′s. Yes by all mean pay compensation to the nations that suffered under slavery; but let the Haitian people and nation be first in line.

  23. Triangle Drifter says:

    The European nations concerned will listen to these tinpots then politely tell them to combine whoopie with travel. Such a waste of time.

  24. BermudaGirl says:

    My European ancestors were unschooled peasants. They too were used up and thrown away. It is sad all around but it is what it is. Let’s just not forget history, lest it repeat itself!

  25. I'm just sayin... says:

    http://theburtonwire.com/tag/slave-reparations-immoral/

    “When many people speak of slavery reparations, they debate the merit of whether descendants of slaves should actually receive payouts for the free labor upon which many nations were built including but not limited to the United Kingdom, the United States and Europe. Rarely discussed is the fact that slave owners, many of them wealthy, received reparations for the loss in income they would suffer after the abolition of slavery. Such is the case in Great Britain where the University College of London (UCL) has created a database that compiles the compensation information of slave owners post-abolition.

    Sanchez Manning of The Independent (UK) is reporting that United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron’s family were among the wealthy families who received generous reparation payments after abolition that would be worth millions of pounds today. Manning writes:

    The true scale of Britain’s involvement in the slave trade has been laid bare in documents revealing how the country’s wealthiest families received the modern equivalent of billions of pounds in compensation after slavery was abolished.

    The previously unseen records show exactly who received what in payouts from the Government when slave ownership was abolished by Britain – much to the potential embarrassment of their descendants. Dr. Nick Draper from University College London (UCL), who has studied the compensation papers, says as many as one-fifth of wealthy Victorian Britons derived all or part of their fortunes from the slave economy.

    As a result, there are now wealthy families all around the UK still indirectly enjoying the proceeds of slavery where it has been passed on to them.”

  26. Mark says:

    I spent some time on the Bermuda Library Digital Collection and have compiled a number of articles on compensation for Bermudians slaveholders at the time of emancipation. You can find them here:

    http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10021457/RG%20Slavery%20Compensation.pdf

    In such a small place as Bermuda, friends and family are often excited and proud when their loved ones and relatives appear in the local newspaper. I wonder if that’s the case with these front page articles.

    Many of the families listed in these excerpts are still prominent in Bermuda today.

    What does this mean? Should we hide from this history or should we acknowledge it and talk about it? I subscribe to the latter.