The President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali has called out European nations involved in slavery, to pay reparations to the nations it offended. The President stated that, the reparations serves as a form of righting the wrongs that occurred in the colonial era.
The South American leader also campaigned that, there must be posthumous charges of crime against humanity against individuals who spearheaded the transatlantic slave trade and slavery activities in Africa. Ali said, reparations were “a commitment to righting historical wrongs.”
Ali’s remarks followed an initial statement of apology issued by the descendants of John Gladstone, a Scottish farmer and the father of Former Prime Minister William Gladstone, who owned many slaves.
“The transatlantic slave trade and African enslavement were an affront to humanity itself. The heinousness of this crime against humanity demands that we seek to right these wrongs.”
“The descendants of John Gladstone must now also outline their plan of action in line with the Caricom plan for reparatory justice for slavery and indentureship.”
President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali.
Commemorating Guyana’s 200th anniversary of the 1823 slave, six generations of Gladstone’s arrived in the South American Caribbean nation of Guyana. According to historians, the said uprising marked the path for abolition of slavery.
As part of the anniversary, the University of Guyana would hold a small ceremony, in which the Gladstone family will take part in the activities. History suggests that, the University of Guyana land, is the grounds “where the revolutions were enacted.”
Moreover, President Irfaan Ali commended the Gladstone family for the apologetic gesture that they’ve shown to slavery-affected nations.
“Its an acknowledgement of the cruel nature of African enslavement and indentureship in Guyana and an act of contrition that paves the way for justice. The Gladstone family has admitted that it benefited from African enslavement and indentureship on the Demerara and other plantations owned by its patriarch, John Gladstone.”
President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali.
Following the dedication, the institution will host “an inter-generational dialogue” between students and members of the Gladstone family, as well as a display of academic writing on the issue.
Also present at the occasion was Laura Trevelyan, whose family apologized to Grenada’s slave descendants, for their ancestors’ involvement in slavery in the eastern Caribbean island.
According to numerous reports, Caricom nations have opted for the services of a British law firm, to spearhead legal battles, aimed at getting monetary compensations from the United Kingdom and other European nation.
According to the group, they acted in accordance with legal advice given to them that, their claim holds water and therefore must be pursued.
After an open apology from the Royal family of Netherland, there have been a growing pressure on countries like the UK, whose Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak declined to apologize to the country’s involvement in slavery, or commit to reparation deal.
However, earlier this week, an International Criminal Court (ICC) Judge, Patrick Robinson, warned that the global climate on slavery reparations has gain momentum and admonished the United Kingdom to reconsider its existing stance on the matter.
“I believe that the United Kingdom will not be able to resist this movement towards the payment of reparations: it is required by history and it is required by law.”
Patrick Robinson, International Criminal Court Judge.
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