ON Friday, the descendants of slave owner John Gladstone apologised for Slavery and Indentureship to all Guyanese. In a historic move that took several decades, Guyanese heard the words, “Our sincerest apologies for his actions in holding your ancestors in slavery in Demerara, now Guyana.”
Guyanese felt some peace and comfort hearing the Gladstone Family acknowledge and say that slavery “was a crime against humanity, and its damaging impact continues to be felt across the world today”. The Gladstone Family also told the Guyanese public about the “shame and regret” they feel for their role in the institutions of Slavery and Indentureship.

They said that while they understand that they cannot change history, they can seek to right the wrongs in the future, so they pledged financial support to fund the research of the University of Guyana’s Diaspora Studies and different types of research here. They have also committed to funding various cultural projects in Britain, as they urge other descendants of slave owners to come forward with a suitable apology to the Guyanese public as well as the whole Anglo-Caribbean region for their ancestors’ involvement in the crimes against humanity. The Gladstone Family committed to and supported the CARICOM’s Ten Point Plan for the Reparations.

Anticipating the apology that would be given at UG on Friday, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Thursday said this was the first step in the process of reparative justice. In what was described as his most impassioned address on the subject matter to date, he sounded the call for reparations from not only the Gladstone Family but all families who played a role in the cruel and dastardly institution of slavery.

Firstly, the Gladstone Family, which was represented by Charles, Caroline, Robert, Felix, and Xanthe Gladstone, and William Merison had done a historic thing by apologising for Slavery and Indentureship. It is long overdue, and a shame it did not come sooner, but it came nonetheless. The family’s apology must be seen as sincere, because it was given unconditionally, and there were signs of remorse, shame, and guilt for their ancestors’ and John Gladstone’s willful and inhumane profiteering and wealth created from the blood, sweat and tears of so many enslaved and indentured Guyanese at the time.

Secondly, it is quite unfortunate that Slavery was lumped together with Indentureship. They are two vastly different institutions, which both had lasting effects on the Guyanese nation; one far more than the other. The mere fact that it is widely believed that Indentureship should never be included in the family’s apology, and should be excised completely, they should offer a second apology, stating the long list of crimes committed against Indentured Labourers at a more fitting site, or on Arrival Day.

This makes the Guyanese public watch this apology ‘sideways’, and view it with a grain of salt, even though some accept it as a step in the right direction.
Thirdly, President Ali’s words ring true and hold the general view of every analytical, critical and intelligent Guyanese. It is one thing to apologise, but what are you doing to get closer to solving the problems that you were directly responsible for. Where is the menu of proposed reparations that is supposed to help the descendants of enslaved Africans?
Surely, talking about funding research and studies is not going to constitute the Gladstone’s contribution to the idea of reparative justice in Guyana. They cannot be serious to pull that PR stunt and hope that Guyanese would not see it.

The truth is that the Gladstone Family failed miserably to state, apart from funding studies, what is their overall contribution to reparations in Guyana in real monetary and economic terms. Also, there should be a revolving fund, at the least, managed by the Guyana Reparations Committee, with oversight from the Government of the Day dedicated to helping the African people in villages such as Belmonte, Coverden, Hampton Court, Industry, Meten-Meer-Zorg, Success, Vreed-en-Hoop, Vreedenstein and Wales.

What the Gladstone Family did was to apologise without outlining how they would broadly address the issues of reparative justice, reconciliation, healing, or the reformation of Africans who they have wronged. Mentioning the CARICOM plan for reparations without saying what will be their next moves apart from apologising and funding studies is disingenuous at this point. The family had all the decades to ponder about what they would do in Guyana for the descendants of African slaves.
Guyanese are very disappointed, but yet still hopeful that the Gladstone Family will not just say the words, but do the actions and work to earn their forgiveness.

Finally, it is no wonder that President Ali chose not to accept the invitation to be part of this event that was held on Friday. Apart from the apology, it was seen as ‘foolery’ and a charade. The issue of reparative justice for slavery is something that should be given intellectual and serious thought. It is something that requires commitment and actions now. It is not to be toyed with, or treated as a stepchild. If UG and Reparations want they can go ahead having these meaningless apologies given without substance or reparations. It would be sinking deeper into the abys of neo-slavery and gain the ire of every right-thinking Guyanese orangisation and people here.

An apology for slavery is just that, if it is not followed by a regime of basic reparative justice. The people are waiting for the Gladstone Family to come correct or have their apology rejected. This is not long time; the Guyanese and Caribbean people are intelligent people who know what they deserve, and are not afraid of asking for it.