In a Caribbean and world often divided by political, racial, and historical fault lines, President Irfaan Ali of Guyana has taken a bold and commendable step towards unity and justice. Certainly, he was not alone among Caribbean Community leaders who jointly and severally demanded substantial reparations from the United Kingdom for the transatlantic slave trade during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. However, he went even further than either precedent or custom would expect in our own fraught racial politics in the Caribbean.
Beginning with a brash appearance on British television from New York, his call for posthumous, if largely symbolic, criminal charges against those involved in the transatlantic slave trade, President Ali’s powerful stance transcended rhetoric and partisan boundaries.
His stand acknowledges the deep-rooted scars left by centuries of slavery and colonialism. His call for posthumous charges against those who participated in this heinous crime against humanity speaks to the need for accountability, even when the perpetrators are long dead, for there is no statute of limitations on crimes against humanity in international law. It underscores that history cannot be swept under the rug, and those who continue to benefit from the exploitation of African people and their Caribbean kith and kin must reckon with their legacy.
In his demand for reparations, he pointed out that this is not merely a financial matter but a multifaceted quest for justice. By using the time value of money to calculate reparations based on the wealth extracted from affected countries during the era of slavery, President Ali offers a pragmatic approach to quantifying the damages inflicted. The effects of slavery go beyond financial loss, touching on the loss of time, competitiveness, human dignity, education, and culture.
Additionally, President Ali’s call for justice from the British royal family is a call for acknowledgement of the systemic, state-led exploitation that funded grand structures in the UK, from stately houses to the City of London, the global financial capital for more than a century. It is a plea for substantive justice that goes beyond token gestures. The history of slavery and its consequences cannot be relegated to the past; they continue to shape our world today.
Now all eyes will be on President Ali’s leadership as it extends beyond historical reparations. Guyana faces new challenges: its newly acquired role as an oil-producing nation and the urgent need for environmental conservation. He has certainly demonstrated a commitment to responsible policies. His advocacy for measures like carbon pricing and stance on ending subsidies to oil companies for exploration shows a readiness to wrestle with opposing forces even as his nation moves to exploit its massive offshore oil reserves.
Given the racial and ethnic tensions that persist in Guyana, birthed in the racialised geopolitics of mid-19th century colonialism as a response to emancipation, President Ali has shown remarkable leadership and courage by addressing a historical injustice against his African brothers and sisters since he himself is descended from indentured Indian labourers. Until now, the expectation was that his People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the main opposition People’s National Congress (PNC) would retreat to their respective corners to appease their racial base. Happily, it is no longer inconceivable that an Indian-descended leader would seek racial justice on behalf of Afro-Guyanese. By making this call for reparations, he sets an example of how leaders can rise above divisive lines and address historical injustices.
As a leader of a diverse population, President Ali has the unique opportunity and responsibility to talk the talk abroad and walk the walk at home. We urge him to commit himself and his party to making a meaningful and sustained effort towards racial justice and equity in Guyana.
This commitment should encompass policies that promote inclusivity, equal opportunity, and the dismantling of systemic barriers that perpetuate racial disparities. It should involve fostering open dialogue, understanding, truth and reconciliation among all segments of Guyanese society. It should address the inequalities that have divided communities for far too long. It should not be restricted to the window-dressing of multiracial political appointments. It needs to extend to a formal national process of truth and reconciliation which also embraces the Guyana government’s atonement for the colonial-era subjugation and modern-day marginalisation of Guyana’s indigenous Amerindian people.
Last week’s call for justice, accountability and acknowledgement on the global stage can serve as a powerful catalyst for change within President Ali’s Guyana. By leading the way towards racial justice and equity in Guyana, he can demonstrate that true leadership transcends borders and that the pursuit of a fair and inclusive society begins at home.
This is a pivotal moment in the history of Guyana’s often thwarted quest for racial justice and equity. We applaud the Guyanese leader’s effort to bridge divides and rectify historical wrongs on a global scale, a feat once out of character depending on the racial background of the leader. Now we encourage him to remember that the most profound change often begins within our own communities. Now we wait for him to turn words into actions and make Guyana a shining example of racial justice and equity in our Caribbean civilisation.
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