AS another day of celebrating Emancipation passes by, it is easy to forget the calls for reparations and why they become all the more relevant with each passing day.

It has been months since I last heard about the Caribbean’s calls for reparations. The last time I heard much about reparations was during the Caribbean tour of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William, and Kate. Strangely, there weren’t too many talks on reparations this year.

But what really caught my attention and directed my focus back to the conversations on reparations was an image of a British diplomat dressed in a traditional African print. Upon seeing this image, all I could think of was Britain’s role in the horrible, inhumane system of enslavement and how, to this day, British officials and authorities are unable to make meaningful amends.

British officials have expressed their regret and sorrow at the events that transpired. But, they usually stop short of offering apologies- as has been demanded by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), for example. To date, Britain has not solidly committed to reparations, and it is for this reason that the photograph I referenced earlier was so striking for me.

So, where are we now?
Contextually, let me explain that reparations or reparatory justice relate to the action of making amends for a wrong done by providing payment or other assistance to those who have been wronged.

There has been the argument that enslavement happened centuries ago and that people should simply move on. In my opinion, that argument is both disingenuous and ignorant because it detracts from the lasting impact of enslavement experienced today- be it entrenched health issues or systemic underdevelopment from centuries of exploitation. It does not cater to the psychological trauma people of African descent grapple with, nor does it assess how enslavement contributed to the debt-ridden feature of Caribbean societies.

Importantly, too, enslavement was a long period of treating Africans as though they were less than humans and not deserving human beings. As such, we see systems of white supremacy and black prejudice plaguing our societies today.

There has also been the argument that one of the more tangible aspects of reparations- providing money- is not necessarily appropriate. Instead, some officials argue that the funds should be channelled into developmental initiatives meant to have a transformative impact on countries.

But as I understand it, reparations are needed to correct (or at least help mitigate) the historical wrongs of enslavement. Caribbean enslavement lasted for hundreds of years, involving a system of forcibly bringing enslaved Africans from West Africa to the Caribbean- Guyana included- and forcing them to toil on the plantations. While European nations profited, these enslaved Africans worked on the plantations and suffered extremely harsh and inhuman treatment.

For me, it is all the more essential to think about reparations now- and advocate for the same- because Guyana and other Caribbean countries are undergoing a period of development and diversification, partially prompted by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. That global event has shown how countries’ dependence on one sector (tourism, in particular) is detrimental, placing them in a significantly vulnerable position. It has also spotlighted the need for these developing countries to work together more as part of efforts to wean themselves off of the dependency on foreign countries.

With these efforts, it isn’t difficult to imagine how reparations could potentially propel the development of people in the region- particularly Afro-Caribbean people. The horrible exploitative system gained billions of dollars, allowing Britain and other European nations to benefit. It seems only logical that descendants of the people who toiled for those developments get what has been rightfully owed to them.

If you would like to connect with me to discuss this column or any of my previous works, feel free to email me at vish14ragobeer@gmail.com