Caribbean Countries Demand £207 Billion in Reparations from London: What’s Cooking in the Historical Kitchen?
Well, well, well! It seems like the Caribbean Community, a collection of 15 dazzling little island nations, has decided to whip out their calculators and remind us all that the past can be as costly as your last holiday in Ibiza—£207 billion costly, to be precise! That’s a figure that’ll make even the most ardent accountant break into a cold sweat.
The Big Announcement
On October 21, in a meeting held in the picturesque Samoa, these island nations made a splash by unveiling their demand for reparations from the UK for the historic slave trade. We’re not talking pocket change here; oh no, we’re discussing a whopping 270 billion dollars (or around 207 billion pounds) that they insist is long overdue. Quite the racket, isn’t it? Not to mention it sets a rather fascinating precedent.
Who’s Following Suit?
Now, as a historian—and you better believe I’m sharpening my pencils for this one—this isn’t just about the Caribbean. Oh no! Wouldn’t it be fun if all those oppressed by history decided it’s time to hold a reparations party? “Hey, send a bill to the Romans! And didn’t the Vikings ransack a few places?” We could end up with a queue longer than the line for the latest iPhone release!
The Caribbean Scene
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) isn’t just a fancy acronym; it’s a collection of vibrant cultures stretching across some of the most beautiful waters on Earth. With the likes of Belize, Guyana, and Suriname thrown in there, they’ve got history that’s as rich as any jerk chicken dish you’ll find. But let’s give credit where it’s due. Historically, those islands weren’t just populated by black slaves; there were also white convicts and captured indigenous people. And let’s not forget the influence of Chinese laborers in the 19th century. A melting pot? More like a historical stew—with plenty of simmering resentments!
The Winds of Change
Interestingly, these calls for reparations have been brewing for years, but I guess they’ve finally caught the wind in their sails. Experts have thrown around various figures, with some suggesting that damages could reach as high as 24 trillion dollars—truly a mind-boggling number that would make anyone’s head spin faster than a Caribbean carnival! And while the UK may be playing coy and refusing to cough up cash, the drumroll for reparations is only getting louder.
A Controversial Precedent
Now, let’s talk about how targeting only the UK might be a bit selective. Historically speaking, we had the Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Dutch all merrily importing slaves like they were collecting stamps. And guess what? The United States had its own fair share of slave owners, too! Could we see a wave of claims rolling in from all directions? Perhaps it’s time for a global reparations festival! Bring the snacks!
The African Connection
And if we consider that over 17 million Africans were forcibly removed from their land, it would be a historic oversight not to think they’ll be next in line, don’t you think? Just two years ago, the leaders from West Africa alluded to similar demands, reminding everyone that the UK was quite generous to the slave owners after abolition—£20 million sterling at the time (which balloons to about £20 billion now) was paid out, and guess who got bupkis? That’s right, the actual slaves!
Official UK Response
As expected, the British government peered at these claims through their monocles, promptly dismissing the idea of reparations while slightly acknowledging their colonial missteps. “No, thank you! No cash for you!” seems to be the motto. After all, who needs to pay for sins of the past when you can just sip tea and look out at the waves?
The Lesson of History
But herein lies the crux of the issue: history has a funny way of reminding us that its lessons can be painfully expensive. And although the UK remained an empire where the ‘sun never set,’ that proverbial sun has set, and it doesn’t appear to be making a comeback any time soon! As we’ve learned, if a hypothetical probability exists, history has a knack for making it a reality at some inconvenient point in time.
Conclusion: A Call to Reflection
So what do we have here? A rich tapestry of historical injustice, a call for reparations, and a hint of cheeky banter as we ponder the implications. With every number thrown about, one thing is crystal clear: while we may chuckle about the absurdities of history, the realities that stem from it are anything but a joke. Buckle up; it looks like this reparations conversation is just starting, and it could be a bumpy ride!
Caribbean countries want almost £207 billion in reparations from London. What mechanism these requirements trigger – in the expert’s commentary FederalCityhistorian Konstantin Menzelintsev.
– On October 21, at a meeting of the Caribbean Community, which took place in Samoa, 15 Caribbean countries immediately announced their financial claims against Britain. For the slave trade carried out by the United Kingdom in America, the community states want to receive no less than 270 billion dollars or 207 billion pounds. Thus, a precedent is created that can become the beginning of a whole chain of events. Tell me, as a historian, who can follow the example of the Caribbean Community?
– The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) includes 15 countrieswhose shores are washed by the Caribbean Sea. This is predominantly small island statesonly Belize, Guyana and Suriname are located on the mainland. Once upon a time they were inhabited by Indiansnatives of all three Americas, however, since the 17th century, they were gradually replaced by black slaveswhich were imported in huge quantities by the British to work on plantations.
Caribbean Community countries on the map. Source: ieyenews.com.
In fairness, it should be noted that slaves on the Caribbean islands had not only black skin color, among them there were also white convictswho were sent to hard labor by the English authorities, and captured Indians. Later, already in the 19th century, the Chinese began to work on plantations, but as hired labor.
Intentions to receive from London declaration of damage caused countries of the Caribbean Community slave tradeappeared several years ago. The amounts were mentioned differentlydepending on the qualifications of the hired experts. Some suggested starting from the number of slaves brought to the islands over three centuries (from 3 to 10 million), others from the harm caused to wildlife. At a recent summit the figure of 270 billion dollars was announced. And experts from the Brattle Group counted 24 trillion dollars.
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As a matter of fact, approximately 30 countries of South and Central America. However, to make claims only to Britain means to sin against historical truth. Slaves were imported by the French, Spaniards, Portuguese, and Dutch. Yes and US planters were hefty slave owners. However, reparations have not yet been demanded from these countries.
Black slaves in English possessions in the Caribbean. Source: sevlife.ru.
You mentioned a precedent that could set off a chain of events. This is true and African states should be next in line for reparations from the so-called transatlantic slave trade. Over the course of four hundred years, colonialists, primarily the British, transported about 17 million inhabitants of the Black Continent. And how many blacks the European conquerors forced to work in Africa itself is beyond calculation.
Two years ago, West African leaders already raised the issue of reparations for the slave trade. The amount was not announced, but the President of the Republic of Ghana Akufo-Addo recalled that after the abolition of slavery London paid compensation to all slave owners 20 million pounds sterling, which in modern money is about 20 billion pounds. However, the slaves themselves did not receive a penny.
So the process of calculating reparations for the transatlantic slave trade is only gaining momentumand the time for other unions will come after the Caribbean Community.
As you would expect, official London refused to discuss the topic of reparations, limitingb recognition of the fallacy of the colonial policy of the British Empire. No UK government money they are not going to pay.
However, a hundred years ago, no one could even imagine that Britain, this empire “on which the sun never sets,” would lose all its vast possessions in just two decades. If there is a hypothetical probability of an event, it will definitely happen sooner or later. These are the laws of history.
Black slaves on plantations. Illustration source: wams.nyhistory.org.
