Chairman of Barbados, Dr. Pedro Welch with the reparations baton
Bridgetown, Barbados — A reparations baton has started its regional journey, as part of a wider effort to spread the reparations message around the Caribbean, through public education and other initiatives focused on the youth.
The baton was passed by chairman of Barbados’ Task Force on Reparations, Professor Dr. Pedro Welch, to Acting Consul General of Guyana to Barbados, Monique Jackman, over the weekend. She will pass it to the Guyana Reparations Commission, which is planning to hold a reparations youth rally next month.
The relay is an initiative of the CARICOM Reparations Commission.
“Barbados has recommitted itself to the call for reparations on this occasion as a mark of respect for our ancestors who struggled for reparatory justice,” said Barbados’ Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, who is also Chairman of the CARICOM Sub-Committee on Reparations. “To mark this event, Barbados has the distinct honor of leading off the symbolic passing of the reparations baton to Guyana as a show of CARICOM solidarity for the cause of reparations.”
The CRC was formed by CARICOM heads of government in 2013. It is headed by Chairman Sir Hilary Beckles, and there are now several national reparations committees throughout the region.
A reparations baton and torch will be presented to national reparations commissions across the Caribbean at youth rallies organized under the banner ‘Roots, Rock, Reggae, Reparations’ which will celebrate the principles and programs of the Caribbean and global reparatory justice movements.
The relay will culminate in Jamaica later this year, where the Emancipation Rebellion led by Sam Sharpe will be remembered and celebrated.
The Barbados launch of the reparations relay coincided with the bicentennial commemoration of the death of General Bussa, the inspirational leader of the Barbados slave rebellion of 1816.
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