I see CARICOM thinks that as a group they have a legal case against the British-French-Dutch and Spain for “retribution” as a result of their argument that our African brothers and sisters were put into indenture (slavery).
I must suggest that not only is there no legal case, but it is totally foolish that CARICOM Prime Ministers could even consider there is a legal case and are willing to waste millions of scarce funds in this pollyanna proposal.
If the Prime Minister turned on their computers – presumption they know how to – and do a Google search they will discover Slavery abounded in Africa for over 3,500 years… tribe to tribe.
Surely on The Bahamas signing of Independence from United Kingdom in 1973 (40 years ago) any claim for anything against the colonial power died? As a proud person of African ethnicity, I am annoyed, embarrassed that the government of the Bahamas should even consider this demeaning proposal.
Is it crazy to consider the minority could bring litigation against successive majority governments for their mismanagement of the country since 1973 and lay claim for damages owing to that?
Editor - the Prime Ministers of CARICOM obviously have nothing to do whilst Rome burns – untold numbers are unemployed and all they do is spend the little money we have to spend unwisely. Another Commission – average age I presume to follow all other Committees – Commissions will be 70+. To me a youngish black Bahamian this has to be called Perry’s foolishness!
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So England pays reparations to the 'slave-owners' after the abolition but the 'slaves' themselves have no right to restitution? This demand has nothing to do with what Afrikans did to each other before during or after, that's like saying if I slapped you in your face you have no right to defend or file claim against me because you slapped yourself first. What our ancestors endured thru-out the Maafa was not slavery, they were never slaves but rather 'enslaved' there is a big difference, furthermore the treatment under what is now called chattel slavery was the most inhumane of treatments. Under the known 'slave to master' relationship certain behavior on the part of the 'master' was prohibited by Law of that land, in our case no such laws protected the 'enslaved', I suggest you read 'Kebuka' by Mwalimu Baruti and get a good understanding of why this crime against our humanity cannot and must not go unaccounted for. Your very mindset over this issue being of Afrikan roots is a result of this harm that was done to us that still pervades today.
The British tried to pretend for years that there was no legal case for reparations to African people because there was no evidence. This has now been disproved.
Kenyans have now been granted the right to sue the UK government for reparations. Check it out: Historic Victory for Kenyans/The Mau Mau. As far as I am concerned, this is just the beginning.
As Rudwaan has said, the former slavers were granted compensation, but the formerly enslaved African people were given nothing.
Financial compensation is our right. Just as other oppressed groups have demanded reparations, we too are entitled to them.
Financial compensation is just one part of reparations. We also need to repair the physical, emotional and psychological damage that has been done. We are the only people who can do that for ourselves.