Caribbean Reparations Analysis - Report Example

CARICOM case analysis Caribbean community- CARICOM has the legal rights to sue the colonizers aggressors who resultedto untold sufferings and inhuman behaviors that affected lives negatively by curtailing the very human right of right to freedom by introducing inhumane practices like slavery and genocide with its victims are still visible even in the 20th century. International law provides for hearing of international cases and offering issues an amicable solution that will ensure justice is served whether the case is civil or criminal, that is the guilty party will be punished or sued or the claimant will financially be compensated. CARICOM is a claimant consisting of 15 Caribbean countries who suffered under the hands of the colonizers (Pilkington). The Caribbean community appeared to have been motivated by their fellow developing nations’ counterpart, Africa who under legal representation of the African World Reparation Truth Commission in 1999 took the world stage by demanding the west for compensation worth 777 USD to be settled in 5 years (Jones). In the subsequent years Caribbean countries like Guyana in 2007 was seen to demand for reparations for slave trade from European nations as well. Antigua and Barbuda followed suit in 2011, Jamaica and Barbados in 2012 while the recent case by CARICOM in 2013 was fueled by one Sir Hilary Beckles, a prominent professor from West Indies, who insisted that CARICOM countries to set a reparations fund like the Jewish Reparations Fund for the Jewish who suffered under the holocaust period (Pilkington). One should wonder whether the CARICOM fraternity should go ahead with the reparation measure like the Jews or should they call the past the past and accept apology from the former European colonizers? The Caribbean heads and government met to this effect and discussed the reparations from Europe for the slavery and its long-lasting negative effects especially on the social and economic platform of the affected Caribbean states (CARICOM). The current economic slump and down-turn trend have their ugly roots to the colonial era where slavery was rampant. The reparation simply calls for the compensation of the enslaved descendants who suffered the historical injustice. A good scenario would be to analyze the current situation in these countries whereby the minority white societies still settled in the Caribbean nations have the amassed massive wealth from the slave trade boom and plantation farming in the early centuries benefits of which go to their mother countries while the ordinary citizens still suffer from lack of wealth vacuumed by the rich individuals (Jones). This is a strong sign that shows that the long lasting effects of slavery and colonization are still eminent in the Caribbean. In fact history has it that the white settlers who lost slaves in their plantations after the slave trade was abolished were heavily compensated by their respective mother governments back in Europe while the victims themselves did not get a single penny in the name of compensation for the transgressions done to them during the slavery era which was “championed” by the same people and caused very many lives (Jones). In my validated opinion the European governments that were involved in the slave trade should definitely be held compensate the CARICOM community for the damages that have amounted ever since the abolishment of slave trade and the negative effects on the social and economic landscape. The reminder of slavery is written all over in present day Caribbean community. Starting from the architecture of some buildings that were built during the slavery era it shows beauty to the tourist but deep down inside it shows the pain the slaves underwent to put up the structures. Many of the slaves’ descendants don’t know the certainty of their ancestral origin because their family tree begins after the end of the slavery era that was after 1931 (Holloway). The European governments colonized the Caribbean states as other states in Africa dealt in slave trade which entailed forcing the slaves to work in plantations that white had set up with no wage whatsoever and under very poor working conditions because they were flogged like rats. The slaves were very much disposable hence they were shot at the “masters” pleasure it is unknown the exact number that of deaths but it is in their thousands. The colonizers took away natural resources from these countries to benefit their own countries back in Europe stripping the land bare to say the least. The reparation can be justified as a bold legal move but on the contrary it is a very difficult process that for starters it might be seen as a desperate move by the Caribbean countries to “cater” for their poor economic performance by merely demanding for outrageous compensation under the guise of reparation of the slave trade and genocide that was instigated and unleashed upon them by the former European colonizers in the 18th century. It would be impossible to know the exact amount that would be effective in the compensation for the transgressions to cover the whole population that suffered under slavery. In a scenario that the dialogue between CARICOM and the Europeans governments would yield fruits and offer forth the compensation it would be difficult to determine the slave descendants and the method to divide the financial claims would be after all be politicized by corrupted systems that would further cause pains to the descendants of the slavery still bringing back the bitterness that is ever there. The west might also retaliate by severing trade relations and ties with the Caribbean nations as a way of “punishment” for the reparation measures by CARICOM that will cost them a lot of financial damage that May in one way or the other harm their economies because the compensation is in billions USD. It is in humble opinion that the effects of slavery to the today descendants appear to be carrying unsolved pain and mystery that should at once be settled by the European governments that took part in this inhuman activities that greatly compromised fundamental human rights like right to life and right to freedom as human beings as all these were curtailed for the sole and monetary benefits of the colonizers not minding the collateral damage that ensued as a result of the injustices. If anyone has watched the award winning film “12 years of a slave” one can tell what the slaves went through in brutal hands of their masters. CAPRICOM leaders have the go ahead to seek dialogue if not the court process and get the western powers to pay wholesomely for their transgressions to humanity. Reparation is a must as a forgiveness measure not to mention the psychological damage of the affected individual whose ancestor was plucked from his original homeland and brought into slavery with all his rights being curtailed because of his color and still sees the remnants of the effects of past transgressions in the present day. Works Cited Holloway, Jonathan. Caribbean Payback. 2 April 2014. 21 April 2014 . Jones, Cecily. The Caribbean people have a legitimate claim for slavery reparations. 16 March 2014. 22 April 2014 . Pilkington, Ed. Caribbean nations prepare demand for slavery reparations. 19 March 2014. 22 April 2014 . Secretariat, Carribean Community. CARICOM Leaders accept Caribbean Reparatory Justice Programme as basis for further action on reparations. 18 March 2014. 22 April 2014 . Read More