“Not us!” Group on visit to UK and Europe on Reparations is not from Caricom Reparations Commission, Chair says

The Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies, Sir Hilary Beckles who is Chair of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, has distanced his team from a group reportedly on a visit to the UK and Europe to talk reparations. Information was sent to and circulated in the media about the visit.

The following is the statement made by Professor Beckles:

“There has been much media reporting in the last week referencing a Caribbean group visiting Britain and the European Union with a reparations agenda; statements to the effect that these individuals, comprising a few from the Caribbean but mostly Europeans, will engage in reparations conversations with political officials and civil society groups.

As a consequence, the Caricom Reparations Commission (CRC) has received several requests for interviews and comments, necessitating a statement to clarify the situation for the betterment of all concerned.

These persons who have arrived in Europe are neither members of the CRC nor formally affiliated.

For over a decade, the CRC has been actively promoting reparatory justice campaigns on a global basis and has adopted an open-tent policy approach to facilitate broad-based advocacy. Through mutual agreements and formal Memoranda of Understanding, the CRC has partnered with many organisations, including universities, churches, families and financial institutions.

The CRC has recently received approval from the Caricom Heads of Government to inaugurate a European public relations campaign to share its vision of reparations with political stakeholders and the general public. It is actively working on the design of the same. Supporting the historic grass roots movement with government support, the CRC is deeply mindful of its complex diplomatic role and public responsibility in shaping the regional and global movement”.