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The Caribbean NGO Caucus commends the United Nations wholeheartedly for hosting the World Conference Against Racism. We honour the government and people of South Africa for their bold efforts at dismantling the Apartheid System. The Caribbean NGO Caucus is thankful that the lingering and unresolved issues of African enslavement, subsequent cultural, social and economic disenfranchisement, and reparations are integral to the agenda of this Third World Conference Against Racism

The Caribbean NGO Caucus proposes to approach the Commission for Pan-African Affairs of Barbados for assistance for a follow-up Conference Against Racism on the anniversary of this one. This conference would attract and galvanize pan-Africanists globally to focus on follow-up Plans of Action.

When we assess the damage inflicted on Africans in Africa and the Diaspora by the trans-Atlantic slave trade, chattel slavery and colonization, and the continuing consequences of this unparalleled tragedy, which put the very survival of Africans at risk, even now in the 21st Century; when we consider the effects of genocide and enslavement on Indigenous People in our region and other parts of the world, we contend that reparations is not an issue for debate. We are talking about a debt that is overdue and payable. And we want the consensus of this conference, that is those who remain, to reflect this.

At this time in the 21st century, NOW, at this conference in Durban we expect the world, and in particular those who profited from slavery, to acknowledge that the devastation of the African continent which halted population growth for over 300 years; the horrors of the middle passage which turned the Atlantic ocean into a mass burial ground for millions of our ancestors; the centuries of harsh, unpaid labour, which enriched others and made 7 years the average life span of the enslaved; the enormous cruelties of slavery, the psychological terror, the calculated, legally institutionalized dehumanization of Africans, constitute crimes against humanity. Any modification of this language should read, the worst crimes against humanity in all of recorded history.

We propose that reparations include but not be limited to:

* The establishment of special funds for education and development to address the psychological consequences of racism, to produce the rapid development of our human capital, as well as physical infrastructure, advancement in the use of , and contribution to the development of modern technology, and investment for the economic empowerment of African countries and African communities in the diaspora, ensuring Africans their rightful place within the global economic system. Further,

*Compensation and /or return of all cultural property taken from Africa and now held in public and private institutions globally;
 

* Cancellation of all debts owed by Africa, the Caribbean, and all other debt-distressed countries;

* Creation, and/or restoration and maintenance of monuments and museums which remind the world of the worst crime against humanity -slavery;

* We urge governments, particularly the Africa Union and Caribbean governments, to collectively discuss and implement policies and mechanisms to rationalize travel between our areas, immigration and repatriation.

* We urge the global commemoration of Emancipation from slavery.
 
 

On a multilateral level we propose- and we make these proposals because, as far as we are concerned, we cannot eradicate racism without changing the configuration of power in the world, so we make the proposal for :

* a detailed review of international trading agreements including but not limited to Cotonou, WTO, FTAA, to identify and terminate any possible exploitation of natural resources and intellectual property of the Caribbean and Africa;

*Ensure true decision making participation within the IMF, World Bank, and WTO of historically disenfranchised countries;

* Implement Special and Differentiated Treatment as originally conceived within the international trading system for the protection of vulnerable economics from predatory practices by other governments and transnational corporations.

WE WANT REPARATIONS, NOW

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Prof. Hilary Beckles- 2000

World Conference Against Racism, Durban, South Africa -September 2001

 

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