Caricom task force should be set up to address slavery – Professor Beckles

Georgetown : A call was made last 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 250^th Anniversary of the 1763 Berbice Slave Revolt as part of Guyana’s 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.