Govt indifference to reparations

THE EDITOR: I have been following Nikoli Edwards as he outlined his frustrated efforts to speak with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley since he was invited to submit proposals on youth development after one of the Conversations with the Prime Minister.

I empathise with Edwards because the TT Committee on Reparations (TTNCR) has been going through the same problems.

My concern is that youth have been rebelling in TT and the assumption is that all of them are criminals by deliberate choice. Furthermore, seeing what took place recently on the Beetham Estate, some people are saying, “Is them Africans from Laventille again.”

The problem is that youth (and African males in particular) are in deep crisis. The Government’s indifference is baffling.

The TTNCR case parallels Edwards’ because, since September 8, 2015, following the change in government, we wrote to the then permanent secretary, Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, regarding the status of the committee.

One year later, on September 12, 2016, the minister, Senator Dennis Moses, met with members of the TTNCR. We have not heard from him since.

On March 21, the acting permanent secretary wrote to the TTNCR that she had noted the submission of previous letters and stated, inter alia, “Your expression of interest in contributing in the area of reparations is noted and appreciated. As the need arises, it is hoped that your support can be counted upon in the area of reparations.”

We have heard nothing since from that office.

Reparations were included in the communique released at the conclusion of the Caricom Heads of Government Conference on July 6.

Letters were sent to the Prime Minister who referred us to Fitzgerald Hinds. Since our meeting with Hinds on September 12, nothing has happened.

Interestingly, according to the Draft Estimates of Expenditure 2017, $500,000 was voted for the TTNCR, which means we exist.

But the allocation was never brought to the attention of the committee. In the estimates for fiscal 2017-2018, the committee’s name is mentioned but no allocation has been made.

By October 10, the Centre for Reparation Research was launched at UWI, Mona. Reparation studies have now been included in the CAPE Caribbean history syllabus as well as in a new history of TT.

The TTNCR has noted that one of the themes of the UN International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024) is justice, wherein reparations for African enslavement have been included.

The UN document calls for reparatory justice, inter alia: “… noting that some States have taken the initiative to apologise and have paid reparation, where appropriate, for grave and massive violations committed, and calling on those that have not yet expressed remorse or presented apologies to find some way to contribute to the restoration of the dignity of victims.”

Again the Government has studiously avoided any recognition of the decade.

The TTNCR continues to meet and, like Edwards, we will continue to advocate our case for reparations and the decade.

AIYEGORO OME, chairman, TTNCR

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"Govt indifference to reparations"

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