Grenadian PM Dickon Mitchell urged former colonial powers to apologize and pay reparations for slavery in a direct address to EU chief Ursula von der Leyen at the CARICOM summit. Calls for reparations are growing, with CARICOM and the AU advancing their own plans.
Former colonial powers must apologise and pay compensation for their historic role in the enslavement of Africans, Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell told European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Mitchell addressed von der Leyen late on Wednesday at the 48th heads of government meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Barbados, which the European leader attended for the first time.
"I don't mean to be impolite," Mitchell said, looking at von der Leyen. "But I will say it to you: the issue of reparations... is an issue we will take up with you."
Mitchell added: "We owe it to ourselves and future generations of humanity to ensure (slavery) is accepted as a crime against humanity, and that appropriate apology and compensation is paid, and that the international community accepts this should never happen again."
Von der Leyen replied to Mitchell without referring to reparations, saying "slavery is a crime against humanity... and the dignity and universal rights of every single human being is untouchable and must be defended by all means".
From the 15th to the 19th century, at least 12.5 million Africans were kidnapped, forcibly transported by mostly European merchants and sold into slavery.
Calls for reparations for slavery and colonialism are long-standing but have been gaining momentum worldwide, particularly among CARICOM and the African Union (AU).
CARICOM has its own reparation plan, which, among other demands, calls for technology transfers and investments to tackle health crises and illiteracy. The AU is developing its own plan.
In 2023, the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) agreed to include in their summit's final statement a paragraph that acknowledged the "untold suffering" slavery inflicted on millions.
In the statement, adopted by leaders of both sides, the CELAC referred to CARICOM's reparations plan.
Azerbaijan is prepared to chair the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in 2028, the country's President Ilham Aliyev has said. He made th...
U.S. federal immigration agents shot and wounded a man in a car with a five-year-old boy inside in New York City’s Bronx neighbourhood on Thu...
Several powerful explosions reported in the south of the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday may have been triggered by oil tankers hitting naval mines, I...
Russia struck Ukraine overnight in one of the biggest attacks of the conflict, killing at least 19 people, Kyiv's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. Around 70 missiles were fired at Ukraine during the attack, as well as drones, the Ministry said.
The Saudi-led coalition says it has carried out a series of military operations against Houthi targets in Yemen after attacks on two Saudi airports left three people dead and dozens injured.
Azerbaijan and the five Central Asian states have signed two key documents at the 8th Consultative Meeting of Heads of State in Turkmenbashi, formalising a broader framework for regional cooperation in transport, trade, energy, digitalisation and security.
Azerbaijan is prepared to chair the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in 2028, the country's President Ilham Aliyev has said. He made the remarks as regional leaders met at the CIS Council of Heads of State meeting in Awaza, Turkmenistan.
It started with classrooms. Too many students, not enough teachers, deteriorating buildings and growing anxiety over what comes after high school. But within weeks, a movement that began outside French lycées had spread across the country.
U.S. federal immigration agents shot and wounded a man in a car with a five-year-old boy inside in New York City’s Bronx neighbourhood on Thursday, city officials, police and witnesses say.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sharply criticised the United States following a series of Russian attacks that killed more than 70 people over two days, arguing that Washington is not doing enough to help Kyiv counter Moscow's continued assault.
Britain and Israel have reached a temporary compromise over the future of the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem, easing a diplomatic dispute that had threatened to further strain relations between the two countries.
The United States has unveiled a new round of sanctions targeting Iran's energy exports, taking aim at vessels, companies and individuals accused of helping move Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and petrochemicals to overseas markets.
The Trump administration has launched a major expansion of its immigration enforcement agenda, restricting access to a key employment-based green card process for several of the world's largest technology and outsourcing companies.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment