CARICOM SHOULD SET UP TASK FORCE TO ADDRESS SLAVERY ISSUE - GUYANESE PROFESSOR
A call was made Monday evening by Professor Sir Hilary Beckles for Caricom to begin efforts aimed at seeking some form of reparation from Western countries for slavery.Speaking at the first of a series of lectures to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the 1763 Berbice Slave Revolt as part of Republic celebrations, the professor said an ongoing discussion was needed to address this issue. He called for, “An informed and sensible conversation” on what has been described as the, “Worst Crime against humanity”.The lecture titled, “Britain’s Black Debt: reparations owed the Caribbean for Slavery and Indigenous Genocide”, examined the damage done and wealth created through slavery over the years, particularly by Imperial Britain.The Mona Campus, University of the West Indies Researcher pointed out that reparation is not about persons getting handouts, but about repairing historical damage and how to find a way forward.It was noted that while all races experienced some form of slavery, African slavery was unique in its scope and brutality. Comparative studies note that it was the only system of slavery in which persons were viewed legally as property and seen as non-humans.African slavery was also unique in that it reproduced itself, meaning the children of slaves were born as slaves, they had no rights, and females in particular were seen as the prefect property since their offspring would add their value.Professor Beckles added that landmark cases such as the 1781 Zong Massacre in which 350 slaves were thrown to sharks after the ship’s captain went off course, helped to shape the discussion on the legality of slavery.The issue of slavery has in recent years been viewed as a crime against humanity and these types of crimes have attracted calls for reparation for victims, in various forms according to the professor. The case of Haiti was cited in which, he said, the western countries had no qualms about requesting and obtaining compensation. Haiti had to pay, from 1825 to 1922, 150 million gold francs to France after its slave population fought and successfully gained its freedom. That country has never been able to recover from that payment, which was needed for it to gain international recognition.The issue of the Jews who were prosecuted during World War 2 and have since organised the Jewish Reparation Fund is one which should be praised and emulated, according to Professor Beckles.He said that through meticulous research, the organisation has been able to garner financial support for its claims against several countries for atrocities committed against Jews. These funds have been used to enhance the State of Israel in various means, he noted.

[ed notes:the professor should be ashamed for proposing a similar fund wich he admitts enhanced the colonial apartheid state of IsraHell...

Nations such as the United States of America, Canada, Japan and New Zealand have put measures in place as part of their efforts to give reparation to indigenous peoples or war victims, and these efforts were to be commended. Yet, it was noted that no similar move has been made in Caricom countries to their own cause.
[ed notes:again the professor,fails to mention that both U.S. and Canada,are still usurping land,and resources of its own and other indigenous peoples across the planet,so whats to be commended exactly?
The benefit that many of the now powerful Western nations have obtained through slavery has been documented and accepted said the professor, who cited the cases of the Lascelles family in Barbados, the aristocracy in England, the Lloyds and Barclays’ banks which built massive fortunes through their involvement with the slave trade. Yet many of these same countries have not been willing to offer any apologies for slavery, but instead have grudgingly given “expressions of regret”. An acknowledgment that falls short of an apology. This, Professor Beckles said is the first step towards understanding and acknowledging that a wrong was committed and an eventual move towards reparations.In closing, Professor Beckles said that Caricom has to come together to find a way to address this issue, one which will lead to peace, justice, reconciliation and future harmony. -- NNN-GINA

[ed note:i think the best solution for seeking reparations was one proposal by the great president Ahmedinejad,see... Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - Least Developed Countrie's(LDC's) should receive reparations for colonialism and slavery, Iran says http://www.mehrnews.com/en/newsdetail.aspx?NewsID=1308201

one has to question the professors integrity on subject when he doesnt mention that brittish imperialism (and aristocracy wich he does mention was intertwined with jewish merchant classes The "Jewish" Conspiracy is British Imperialism ) wich profitted off slavery was ran by wealthy jewish merchants primarily.the idea that for caricom nations seeking reparations should be based on a jewish ''holohoax model'', (see,
The Holocaust Industry #4(7:07) The Holocaust Industry #5(9:25) The Holocaust Industry #2 ) is absurd if one doesnt call for seeking reparations from the jewish mercantile classes wich drove it Jewish Involvement In Black Slave Trade To The Americas ...im not singling out jews either btw,many countries,nations,cultures engaged in it,including blacks themselves,im merely questioning the professors lack of objectivity.Also i refuse to believe the professor doesnt know that the jewish model for seeking reparations is basically an extorsion racket,wich leaves out the role(and doesnt seek reparations from) of those powerful jewish international financiers wich powered the nazi regime,nor does it question the role of the jewish soldiers in hitlers army who carried out its agendas!The professor should not be teaching at university level in my opinion,and could possibly have his own self interests in mind regarding issue...this should be an eye opener.. Independent Director and Member of Corporate Governance & Ethics Committee, Sagicor Financial Corporation Executive Profile: Hilary McD Beckles B.A. (Hons.) Ph.D.

im wondering here,is it a contradiction to call for reparations when you sit on the board of a major insurance corporation board wich is traded on the same stock exchanges in caribbean and london wich were created by the same international financial capitals and interests wich were instruments behind the very same classes wich profitted off slavery trade? The Rothschild Bankers, the Freshfield Slavers and the Rise of ...
i'm all for reparations,and caricom should press that issue,but this professor is hardly the kind of man suited to chair any such topic...as far as im concerned h shouldnt even be associated with CARICOM ,there are many qualified intellectuals in region wich could lead the way,and he's not one..