Reparations discussion to be taken to the international community

The discussion on reparations will be taken further, to the international community.{{more}}

And Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves says that he will be doing just that, when he addresses the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly next week.

Gonsalves, while speaking at the opening ceremony of the three-day regional reparations conference on Sunday, said that the quest for reparations is a global project of extraordinary proportions and needed to be addressed accordingly.

“I thus expect that each government of the CARICOM member states will cause to be inserted a strong, positive message on reparations in the speech of its head of state, head of government or foreign minister, who addresses the United Nations General Assembly next week,” Gonsalves said.

He added that it was his intention to do so on behalf of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Prime Minister further said that he was advising that every effort be made to build solidarity ties with like-minded persons, groups overseas, including those in Europe.

“We must strive to build support across national and ethnic lines.

“Our CARICOM governments will have to engage, formally, the governments of Britain, France and Holland — the former colonial powers — which designed and executed the historic wrongs and injustices against the native populations and enslaved Africans,” Gonsalves said.

He said further that it is necessary to interface, in a structured manner, with the people in Africa, including African governments.

“The African-Caribbean nexus is vital,” Gonsalves said. (DD)