Hasten your footsteps on reparations, constitutional review – Skelton-Cline
That advice is coming from Government Consultant and host of the Honestly Speaking Radio Programme, Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline.
“I want to call on the government to hasten their own steps in the formation of this constitutional review; to hasten their steps of what the Premier said he would do some weeks ago about forming a Reparations Committee that can be joined with our Caribbean brothers and sisters that we can together be a force in representing our position to the so-called powers that be, France, the United Kingdom, all of them,” he said on his show aired on Tuesday, November 17, 2020, on ZBVI 780Am and live-streamed on Facebook.
Skelton-Cline said, referring to reparations that “it is together we are stronger. Unified we can put forward a more effective case on these matters. We must hasten the steps.”
Plans have commenced to review the Constitution with a view of identifying loopholes in the existing document and reviewing the vision of the people of the territory.
Meanwhile, Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said he too backs the rest of the region in its attempt at seeking reparations from Britain.
He also said the territory should consider renaming the Sir Francis Drake Channel and the like as the territory moves away from its dark past to become a more independent jurisdiction.
Slave masters were compensated!
Premier Fahie bemoaned that the slave masters were compensated by the United Kingdom in the sum of £20 million in 1833, yet the descendants of slaves, have yet to be paid.
The matter of reparations was raised on September 7, 2020, when Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert told 284 Media in an interview that despite the UK recognising that the transatlantic slave trade was a horrific period, the UK has not committed to paying up.
He said: “That’s not a position that the United Kingdom has taken.”
In response, Premier Fahie had said, Mr Jaspert’s comments are reflective of the perception of how the UK views the people of the territory.
He then wrote to Minister for the Overseas Territories Baronness Elizabeth G. Sugg on the matter on September 14, 2020.
However, Sugg said she was in support of Governor Jaspert’s statements.
“The British government expresses deep regret for this country’s past role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. We recognise fully the strong sense of injustice, and the legacy of slavery still felt in the most affected parts of the world. We feel that the most effective way for Britons today to respond is to ensure that future generations do not forget what happened and to work to ensure that slavery has no place in today’s world,” Sugg replied on September 18, 2020.
In commenting on the letter, Fahie said, it was disappointing that it is apparent that the UK believes a “statement of regret” is sufficient for the enslavement of people.
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26 Responses to “Hasten your footsteps on reparations, constitutional review – Skelton-Cline”
So againI ask freddom from whom? BVIslanders own all the land of the BVI which they haven't solf off to drive nice cars. So freedom from who?
The only oppressor here is the BVI Government and idiots on the radio trying to keep you all subjegated by hatred.
You summed it up perfectly.
For what , your forefathers deserved it, you do not.
Return all Crown Land,then return to your so called homeland of Africa that is rife with corruption and killings, return to poverty , lack of food, or do you just want some cash to buy a new car?
You have been free since 1st August 1834 your family have amassed riches and everyone has had an oppertunity to prosper and do as they choose for over 60 years you have ruled yourselves with little interference and just help when you needed it wether you are thankful or grateful of it.
Now in the BVI people work and pay taxes yet are unable to vote this is modern day slavery will you stand up for this also?
Moreover, racism was premised on White privilege, supremacy and hierarchy. This privilege provided preferred advantages in jobs/employment, education, healthcare, housing, dietary choices, government assistance......etc. Slavery and its companion racism created a wealth gap fault line between descendants of slave owners and slaves. The wealth earned from slave labour enabled slave owners to leave an inheritance for their descendants. At Emancipation, were barefooted and in rags.
“The British government expresses deep regret for this country’s past role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. We recognise fully the strong sense of injustice, and the legacy of slavery still felt in the most affected parts of the world. We feel that the most effective way for Britons today to respond is to ensure that future generations do not forget what happened and to work to ensure that slavery has no place in today’s world,” Sugg replied on September 18, 2020. The UK government must do more than just acknowledge the egregious past wrongs and injustices inflicted on slaves and must provide compensatory damages through REPARATION. It must make slave descendants whole. Other groups who suffered injustices received reparation, ie, Japanese, Jews, Mau Mau, residents of Rosewood, Fl, .......etc so why not descendants of Caribbean/West Indian slaves?
The reason the list of people you mention got reparations is because they were still alive or their children were alive.
You are asking for reparations for great great great grandchildren most of whom now have other lineage within their family trees. White, Asian, Latin you choose.
That is the answer why not, you won't like it ,but its a fact. Also all the land of the BVI was given over at the time now worth billions (but BVIslanders have sold lots)but still you have your begging cup out, it truly is pathetic the dribble you come out with every time.
Yours a mixed race man so do I get anything?
In regards to reparation only going to the living who suffered injustices, to me, that is not factual. Let’s look to the Holocaust. Adolf Hitler sent some 6,000,000+ Jews to the gas chamber. A horrible genocide ( of course, all genocides are horrible, ie slavery). In addition to the 6,000, 000 plus murdered, tens of millions more were forced into slave labor; many died from the forced slave labour. Consequently, to compensate the Jews, Germany paid Israel 3 billion marks between 1953 and 1967, and 450 million marks to World Jewish Congress. The paid reparations benefited not only survivors but also descendants of the murdered.
Moreover, old injustices and evils do not evaporate with time. There are no statue of limitation on some crimes; there should be no statue of limitation on genocide, ie, slavery. 1 Kings: “Have you murdered and also inherited.”
Germany was complicit in and condoned the Holocaust; UK (government)too was complicit and condoned slavery. As a result, unspeakable and horrific crimes were committed against slaves. Slave labour built the UK’s economy and benefitted the whole UK society so the UK(government) should acknowledge the wrong and pay compensatory damages to slave descendants. It owes a moral and material debt to descendants. ......
What happened elsewhere? Well many other countries just invested in their people, their infrastructure, their institutions and thrived. Others didn’t and it doesn’t look good. It’s a conversation to have sure but it’s not straightforward.
Genocide happens in Africa not in rural America
Yes some cities are vibrant at the cost of the rest of their nations.
Power corrupts all.
Immersed in the entitled status, Governor Jaspert could not bring himself to apologize to the slave descendants. As such with the recent huge drug bust he race could not wait to rush the camera to proclaim that the BVI was corrupt. This was a shiny object distraction opportunity for Guv so as not to apologize to Virgin Islanders. Neither the use or sale of illegal drugs have no part in the BVI community, for it is detrimental to the society.