Local Reparations Committee to complete draft proposal today

Local Reparations Committee to complete draft proposal today
JUNE 18, 2014 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS
By Zena Henry
The local Reparations Committee, which is responsible for the compilation of data – historic and current – for presentation to Europe over claims of native genocide and slavery, is expected to complete its draft proposal today.
The Reparations Committee is expected to complete the draft proposal today.





The Reparations Committee is expected to complete the draft proposal today.
The committee will then be seeking the input of organizations and civil society. Chairman of the committee Eric Phillips told Kaieteur News yesterday that the organization had designated today for all major work to be completed and the draft prepared. He explained that recently the committee, along with others from the various Caribbean regions seeking compensation, had a Skype meeting with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to discuss their moves.
He said that CARICOM is expected to meet from July 1, to the fourth, and they will decide on the way forward.
Among the proposals being advanced to the local committee, participating organization, The Afrikan Movement, has submitted and called for a Reparations Act. The call goes to both CARICOM and the local government for what was described as a meaningful guide towards matters of reparation.
The body said it has a vested interested in the outcome of the work of the Guyana National Reparations Committee and it has pledged its support for the point 10 “Debt Relief” as per Guyana Reparations Committee, subject to the condition that in the Guyanese context, Debt Relief be accompanied by a programme of “Affirmative Action for Guyanese of Afrikan ancestry”.
They called for the provisions for reparative action to be legislated in a Reparations Act, which “takes into consideration the history of the undermining of Afrikan achievements in the Linden community and the wider context of Guyanese history”.
In the undermining of African achievement, the Movement believes that a constitutional provision needs to be engaged to ensure the perpetuity of the benefits of African endeavour in Guyana and that it recommends and lobbies for the establishment of a Reparations Fund to receive and manage funds received as Reparations and that such monies shall not go to the national treasury.
It was requested further that all historical records relevant to African arrival, existence and experiences be obtained and educational and cultural programmes be developed. The body called for an investigation to be launched into the history of Guyana’s Black Caribs.
“The Afrikans of Guyana should be recognized and compensated for laying the infrastructure on which the nation’s capital and economy is based.

I have enormous admiration for the steps taken by the local reparations committee to bring forth a sense of justice to Guyanese of African descent. Too bad I can't say the same for America. A recent poll done over here has shown over 54% of Americans are against any form of reparations to descendants of African slaves in America. It's mind boggling to me how people do not understand the damage done by slavery and this willingness to turn a deaf ear to how present day inequalities is link directly to this past human devastation. I don't fully comprehend this mentality and then again I don't have the luxury of being ignorant and in a so-called privilege position to dismiss someone else's reality. Honestly, I don't see much result coming after this draft. People in European nations and in government in America are not willing to read the facts or fully level the playing field. That would mean less power for them.

oh guuuuude!  the possibility of free money. 

full complement...very well attended.  everybody deh!  early to get the place at the table
  ::LOL:: ::LOL:: ::LOL::
::LOL:: ::LOL::
::LOL::

maps u gave up on collection?

Mapoui seh his Claim is worth from todays money about 10 Million TnT $$  8)

no chairman!  why would I do that ::confused::

but I don't care to be involved in what's going on..the way it is going.  you know how that is going to go.  my days of that kind of thing are done.  I don't see yet how reparations can be achieved and used to the benefit of all who were victimized

Reparations is a vast thing..not only for slavery but for the what was done to africa....what continues to be done to africa.  just look at the Congo alone..by Belgium to begin with but continuing to this day, by the corporations for diamonds, rare earths etc.  how do you address that ::confused::  it would take all the wealth that belgium and the corporations have as compensation

but to what advantage to the Congolese people given the absolute nastiness of the africans who lead the Congo?

that is the same case scenario for every black country in the world..and black ethnic groups as large parts of populations everywhere.  our societies and groups are riven by class divisions..and led by elites who are the worst, most rapacious kinds of people anywhere..of any human kind

for sure any kind of deal with those guys as leaders, involved in settling the issue, will be corrupt and aimed fully towards filling their own pockets.  it would set up only another round of reparations in the future if and when black people finally correct ourselves and are capable of dealing in the interest of all our people

at that point I can envisage a scenario in which the black elites would also have to pay reparations..to their own..or be confiscated totally.