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In contextualizing Gladstone’s apologists, it should be viewed as the beginning of a process that could be initiated with the CARICOM ten-point plan. Sharing with a group of protesters, “We really need to look at the significant work that the CARICOM Secretariat has done in relation to reparations to deal with the issues in relation to national and international reconciliation”.
These were some of the points raised by Opposition Parliamentarian, Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Amanza Walton-Desir. The MP attended the descendants of former slave owner John Gladstone, July 25, 2023 apology, on the 200th Anniversary of the Demerara Slave Rebellion, delivered at the University of Guyana.
Walton- Desir in speaking with the online program ‘In The Ring’ acknowledged too that “yes” the forum was emotional, raised anger, deep emotions, and protest from varying groups but noted that what should be understood is we must move forward and in deciding how to execute moving forward, she said “the CARICOM Reparations Commission did extensive work with meetings, caucuses throughout Guyana and the Caribbean to come up with a ten-point plan and it is a good road map to follow and it begins first with an apology, a full formal apology.”
The Opposition parliamentarian said the ten-point plan speaks to our repatriation, cultural institutions, the public health crisis four hundred years of slavery would have precipitated, issues of literacy and technology transfer in relation to the industrialization of western nations, and the role societies such as ours played.
The Shadow Minister believes that these are strong issues to use as a foundation for a road map to moving forward. She noted that she was honored to be a part of step one, “an acknowledgment that this grave crime against humanity was committed and therefore laying the groundwork for us to now move forward to deal with the legacy of trauma and tribulation that still to a large degree haunts us, this Guyanese society and the descendants of enslaved Africans up to today,” she offered.
