Calls made for removal of one clause in reparations motion

Several opposition members of parliament, while debating the motion on the state of reparations effort in St Vincent and the Grenadines, called for the removal of one of the motion’s clauses.

Clause four, which resolved that the House instruct the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines “to put on record its high regard and commendation to Prime Minister, Dr The Honourable Ralph E. {{more}}Gonsalves in St Vincent and the Grenadines for his commitment to, and the determination, in initiating the reparations conversation at the highest level of regional governmental authority and for pushing forward against European Conquest, Genocide, the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery, Colonialism and for the reparations,” did not sit well with opposition parliamentarians.

In his address to Parliament on Monday, Senator Dr Linton Lewis, while describing this country’s move to reparations as commendable, voiced his disapproval of the part of the clause which said Gonsalves initiated the reparations conversation at the highest level of regional governmental authority.

“The issue of reparation in CARICOM was not an issue that was initiated here in St Vincent and the Grenadines. St Vincent may have come on stream recently to speak about it…but we did not initiate it,” Lewis said.

He also pointed out that reparatory initiatives were taken by Rastafarians in Jamaica, President Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana and in Antigua and Barbuda in previous years, and so they should be included in the paragraph.

Senator Vynnette Frederick, in her contribution, declared that she “in good conscience” could not stand and have a discussion about reparations which includes putting on record, high regard and commendation to Gonsalves.

While presenting his wrap-up, Senator Jomo Thomas, who moved the motion and also heads the St Vincent and the Grenadines Reparations Committee, stated that he had “absolutely no desire” to remove the paragraph from the motion.

“I think it is proper. I think it is right to put it in there. If there is any amendment at all that should be put in there is for us to add the critical role that the Rastafarian community and other progressive members in Vincentian society played in terms of keeping the issue of reparations alive and carrying it forward,” he said.

An amendment, to include a paragraph regarding the Rastafarians was added in to the motion, before it was officially passed on Monday. In the vote, all 11 members on the government side who were present voted in favour of the motion, while the eight opposition members declined to vote.(BK)