Caribbean voices put slavery reparations on the agenda in Europe

A number of activists and researchers in the reparations movement from across the Caribbean region have hailed two successful days of constructive engagements with EU and UK political representatives on the issue of slavery reparations.

Delegates visited from countries across the Caribbean, including Barbados, Jamaica, Haiti, Suriname, St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia. On Tuesday (1^st July), they met with MEPs and representatives from across the EU at the European Parliament in Brussels, receiving support from representatives of Portugal, Italy, Spain, Denmark, France and Ireland. Their briefing event at the European Parliament was hosted by Irish MEP Seán Kelly.

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The group then travelled to London to meet with UK politicians in the Houses of Parliament, including Diane Abbott MP, Dawn Butler MP, Paulette Hamilton MP, Juliet Campbell MP, Baroness Margaret Curran and Lord Marvin Rees.

On Wednesday afternoon (2^nd July), they held a briefing event in Portcullis House, Westminster, hosted by Bell Ribeiro Addy MP, with parliamentarians from all political parties and members of relevant Parliamentary Groups and Committees invited to attend. Amongst the attendees were Maureen Burke MP, Clive Lewis MP, Florence Eshalomi MP and Baroness Margaret Ritchie.

The Caribbean delegation’s visit to Europe was organised by The Repair Campaign, a movement for reparatory justice in the Caribbean, guided by the CARICOM 10 Point Plan for Reparatory Justice. The delegation arrived in Europe earlier this week amid rising calls from Caribbean governments for the UK and other European nations to engage with formal demands for reparations for slavery and its enduring impacts across the region.

Founded in 2022, the Repair Campaign aims to amplify Caribbean voices and foster meaningful dialogue on reparatory justice for countries impacted by the chattel slave trade. To ensure clear, effective plans are in place to use these reparations, it has engaged the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) at the University of the West Indies to develop 15 country-specific reparatory justice plans to address the enduring effects of chattel slavery, indentureship and colonialism.

Don Marshall, Director of SALISES and a member of the Caribbean delegation that travelled to Europe this week, said:

Our visit to Europe has been extremely positive, shining a light on the issue of reparations and allowing us to see the genuine passion that political representatives across the EU and UK have for our cause.

“Throughout the Caribbean, we see the aftermath of chattel slavery today in public health crises, inadequate education systems, underdeveloped infrastructure and high national debts. Through the socio-economic repair and renewal plans we have crafted from research across the 15 CARICOM member states, we are in a position to further advance the case as initially outlined in the CARICOM Reparations Commission 10 Point Plan. Our hope is to energise conversations about the priority interventions necessary for repairing and renewing Caribbean economies and livelihoods.”

Commenting on the visit, The Repair Campaign founder Denis O’Brien said:

“It has been heartening to see the support that exists for reparations, both in the European and UK Parliaments. This week’s events have been an important first step in placing this issue firmly on the political agenda, and building up political support to make meaningful progress in the months ahead.

“I look forward to building on these meetings in the coming months as we continue to push this issue into the political and public consciousness and work together to bring us ever closer to a fair resolution of this great injustice.”