–says reparations are not a demand for payback or charity, calls for ‘mature’ discussions to address development inequalities

GUYANA’S President, Dr Irfaan Ali, has called for a “mature” discussion on reparations that addresses the lasting development inequalities caused by slavery, saying the issue should not be treated as a demand for “payback” or charity.

Speaking to ITV News presenter Robert Moore ahead of King Charles III’s visit to Guyana, Dr Ali said the King would be welcomed warmly, citing Guyanese hospitality and the monarch’s longstanding relationship with the country.

“As a country, we will continue to champion the issue of reparation because slavery was the worst indignity to humankind,” Dr Ali said during the interview which was aired on Monday night.

Asked about calls for an apology for Britain’s colonial past, Dr Ali said an apology would help create “an environment of having free-flowing discussions.” He cautioned, however, that an apology should not be seen as an end in itself.

The president said reparations should not be based on assigning a monetary value to the injustice of slavery. Instead, he argued, discussions should identify development gaps and inequalities resulting from the region’s history of exploitation and underdevelopment.

“That is a very important question that we need to settle in the conversation, not only about an apology, but how do we define reparation? Some would say it is through a valuation system, but in my humble opinion, you cannot ever value the type of injustice that took place, and you can never, you know, create a monetary mechanism to address that,” he said.

Possible measures, he said, could include debt relief and new forms of concessional financing for education, healthcare and mental health, as well as climate adaptation and mitigation.

“But what you can do is to identify the development gaps, the development inequality, the underdevelopment that took place as a result of slavery,” he pointed out.

Dr Ali rejected the suggestion that reparations amounted to “payback,” saying: “This is not payback. It is not charity.” He called for a solution that recognises the suffering and consequences of slavery while supporting a development model to address them.

The interview also touched on the contrast between countries that, Dr Ali said, benefited materially from slavery and those left facing its long-term effects. He argued that the wealth generated through exploitation had helped some countries build systems better able to withstand economic shocks.

“You who benefited tremendously from the darkest days of human history, benefited materially and financially, are now telling me that you don’t have enough financing to match your needs,” the head of state quizzed.

The visit by King Charles III will form part of Their Majesties’ Autumn Tour, which was announced by Buckingham Palace back in August.

The King’s visit will coincide with the commemoration of six decades of diplomatic relations between Guyana and the United Kingdom, which were formally established following Guyana’s attainment of independence in 1966.

Further, the upcoming visit is expected to provide an opportunity for Guyana and the UK to highlight the longstanding ties between the two countries and reaffirm areas of co-operation
Back in January, President Ali met with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace