Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
Editorial
April 19, 2013

Reparations demand is a just one

Fri Apr 19, 2013

It is most unfortunate that the critical issue of reparations for those who have suffered the horrors of genocide and slavery; those who have been robbed of land, identity and culture; who have had to endure centuries of colonial rule and plunder; should be taken completely out of context and turned into a partisan political issue. That, however, is the sad reality in our country.{{more}}

The call for reparations for such crimes is not a new one, nor is it confined to people of African descent, nor descendants of the Callinago and Garifuna people. The best-known case is the well-publicised one of the Jews, compensated for the horrors of Hitler’s holocaust. But there are many other examples worldwide. After World War I for instance, the defeated Germans were forced under the Treaty of Versailles to pay a sum of US$33 billion to the victorious Allied powers. Arising out of the Second World War, the Japanese were similarly forced to make reparation payments and in more recent times, Japanese leaders have accepted responsibility for their crimes in Asia, as part of the reparation process. In turn, Japanese-Americans, unfairly interned in the USA during the war, have received compensation from the US government.

Of even more relevance to Caribbean people are other processes of reparation for victims of colonial plunder and genocide worldwide. Examples are Canada and the USA, for the crimes against the native peoples in North America, and Australia and New Zealand, for similar crimes against the aboriginal populations by the white colonial settlers.

Thus the call for reparations by Caribbean Governments, organisations and citizens, is no ridiculous, money-grabbing scheme. Nor, by any stretch of the imagination, can the call be considered a distraction from the normal business of providing for the well-being of Vincentians, as was said earlier this week by Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace.

Such statements display a misunderstanding of what the growing clamour for reparation is all about. They also do a grave disservice to our people by trying to counterpose the legitimate claim for reparation with their daily problems.

Reparation is not just the payment of monetary compensation; it also involves the perpetrator accepting responsibility for the crimes committed, apologizing and showing genuine contrition. Also, the validity of the reparation claim does not depend on whether it is likely or unlikely in one’s lifetime.

Professor Hilary Beckles, the Caribbean Rastafari Movement, Prime Minister Gonsalves and the broad swathe of Caribbean people of native or African descent who demand reparations, would be unreasonable to suggest that the call be given priority over the day-to-day needs of our people.

If the Jews, the Maoris, the Aborigines in Australia, the native peoples of North America can be justly recognized as victims of cruel oppression and be deemed worthy of reparations, why not us in the Caribbean? Our case is even stronger, because the British government, as part of the Act of Emancipation, paid out handsome compensation to the slave owners, who were not the victims of genocide, slavery and exile.

The reparation demand is a just one. Calling for reparations does not absolve any government from its responsibility towards its people, nor does it mean that the day-to-day work of any government comes to a standstill. How then can the call for reparations be a political smoke-screen? Our governments should be supported in their efforts in this regard.

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    ULP presents slate of candidates for National Council’s approval
    Front Page
    ULP presents slate of candidates for National Council’s approval
    Webmaster 
    September 16, 2025
    THE GOVERNING Unity Labour Party (ULP), last Thursday, September 11, 2025, presented its full slate of candidates for approval at the party’s National...
    Ollivierre promises Ministry of Grenadines Development under NDP
    Front Page
    Ollivierre promises Ministry of Grenadines Development under NDP
    Webmaster 
    September 16, 2025
    OPPOSITION MEMBER of parliament for the Southern Grenadines, Terrance Ollivierre is promising a better life for the people of the constituency under a...
    North Windward elderly enjoy ‘Age with Grace’ at Sandy Bay
    Front Page
    North Windward elderly enjoy ‘Age with Grace’ at Sandy Bay
    Webmaster 
    September 16, 2025
    SCORES OF NORTH Windward residents turned out to the Sandy Bay Primary School on Saturday, September 13, 2025 to take part in a body care and wellness...
    ‘Outsider’ shot and killed in Layou
    Front Page
    ‘Outsider’ shot and killed in Layou
    Webmaster 
    September 16, 2025
    A MAN WHO WAS DESCRIBED as an “outsider” by several villagers before he was shot and killed in Layou last weekend, has been identified as 23-year-old ...
    Mainland, firmly NDP territory says Cummings
    Press Release
    Mainland, firmly NDP territory says Cummings
    Webmaster 
    September 16, 2025
    CHAIRMAN OFTHE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY (NDP), Daniel Cummings, has appealed to constituents in the Southern Grenadines to re-elect Terrance Ollivierre in...
    GEF, UNDP and Ministry of Agriculture Summer engagement Programme a success
    Press Release
    GEF, UNDP and Ministry of Agriculture Summer engagement Programme a success
    Webmaster 
    September 16, 2025
    IN A BOLD STEP toward cultivating the next generation of environmental leaders, the Ridge to Reef Project – funded by the Global Environment Facility ...
    News
    Vendor fined, bonded, and ordered to pay compensation for striking sleeping man
    From the Courts, News
    Vendor fined, bonded, and ordered to pay compensation for striking sleeping man
    Webmaster 
    September 16, 2025
    A VENDOR, who accused another man of vomiting and urinating in front of his family’s business place was bonded for striking the man in his stomach whi...
    Collaboration needed for more growth, says SVG Hotel Association President
    News
    Collaboration needed for more growth, says SVG Hotel Association President
    Webmaster 
    September 16, 2025
    PRESIDENT OF THE SVG Hotel Association Isola Giddings, says the country’s tourism sector is on a firm path of growth, but stakeholders must work toget...
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    News
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    THE ASHLEY LASHLEY Foundation, with support from the United States Government, is implementing a local-level project entitled “Community-Driven Strate...
    Skills not available locally, non-nationals have to be hired says Finance Minister
    News
    Skills not available locally, non-nationals have to be hired says Finance Minister
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    NON- NATIONALS ARE being hired to fill several jobs in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) simply because locals did not have the required skill sets....
    Montgomery Daniel squashes rumours that he’s sick
    News
    Montgomery Daniel squashes rumours that he’s sick
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER Montgomery Daniel has sought to clear around rumours that have been circulating relating to his health. Speaking on NBC radio on...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok