Slaving nations in Europe must pay back debts—CARICOM
Slavery not a “historical relic”
Never forget.
This was the staunch call of the Caribbean countries against the deeds of their former European slaving nations during last December 2nd’s solemn celebrations for the United Nations International Day for the Abolition of Slavery.
They demanded for a pay back on their debts, vowing to eliminate colonial remnants that still exist in the region.
It was on December 2, 1949 when the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and the Exploitation of the Prosecution of Others was approved. Since 1993, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Reparations Commission has been in pursuit of the proper compensation for the genocide of indigenous peoples and the enslavement of Africans.
“Europe has a debt to our people and now is the time to pay,” said CARICOM Commission head Hilary Beckles, adding that some people in the Caribbean are still affected by the legacy of slaving nations.
The UN has agreed with the commission warnings, saying that slavery “is not merely a historical relic.”
“Slavery has evolved and manifested itself in different ways throughout history. Today some traditional forms of slavery still persist in their earlier forms, while others have been transformed into new ones,” the international body said in a statement. “The UN human rights bodies have documented the persistence of old forms of slavery that are embedded in traditional beliefs and customs. These are the result of long-standing discrimination against the most vulnerable groups in societies, such as those regarded as being of low caste, tribal minorities and indigenous peoples.”
According to a report by the London-based Morning Star, these countries that have subscribed to slavery in the past include Britain, France, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
As part of the efforts to eradicate the consequences of the historical crimes, a number of Caribbean nations have already reinforced demands in recent months.
There has also been a rise in calls for emancipation from colonial rulers. Last month, Barbados announced that it will become a republic, renouncing its Commonwealth status by November 2021, on the 55th anniversary of its independence.