News Releases

Ground-breaking Study Tour on Reparations and Racial Healing in Bridgetown, Barbados

For Release Upon Receipt - July 27, 2023

UWI


The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica W.I. Monday, July 24, 2023—The University of the West Indies (The UWI), the Open Society Foundations, the African Union Economic Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC), the Caribbean Pan African Network (CPAN) and the Government of Barbados have partnered for the ground-breaking Reparations and Racial Healing Study Tour taking place from Monday, July 24, to Friday, July 28, in Bridgetown, Barbados.

The distinctive study tour is the result of the landmark decision of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government, in February 2023, calling for a Common African Position and Programme of Action on Reparations, and serves to underscore the strategic relevance of Africa taking its place as a leading voice for reparations by coalescing with ally nations in the Caribbean community.

Prominent African leaders and dignitaries will convene in Bridgetown to unveil Barbados' commitment to becoming a leader in the global reparations' movement, a position recently highlighted in the TIME Magazine headline story ‘Slavery Reparations are Coming – A Historic Global Movement Gains Power in Barbados. The study tour also significantly marks the beginning of an intercontinental campaign process advocating for reparations and healing on both the African and global stages. Unified Ambassadors and representatives will gather on a unified front to call for reparations for historical crimes. The work agenda will include strategy sessions, knowledge-sharing dialogues, plenaries, collective advocacy, exploration of approaches for racial communal healing, and critical reflection on addressing harms suffered within Africa and throughout the Diaspora. The tour’s schedule also includes delegates participation in Barbados’ Day of National Significance events and visits to noteworthy historical locations. 

Distinguished attendees will include ambassadors and representatives from selected Member States of the African Union, Pan-African academics, advocates, and campaigners who have dedicated their efforts to reparations, healing, and Pan-Africanism. Among those present for strategic engagements with the visiting delegation will be Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor, The University of the West Indies (The UWI) and Chair of the CARICOM Reparations Commission who is internationally recognised as a leader in the global reparations movement through his relentless advocacy and academic contributions. UWI Pro Vice-Chancellor of Global Affairs, Sandrea Maynard is also slated to co-moderate a roundtable discussion covering the topics of the historical struggles for reparation in Africa & CARICOM; knowledge production & the role of academia in the campaign for reparations; and intercontinental movement building for reparations & reuniting the African continent with its Diaspora communities. 

The study tour will culminate in a pivotal news conference which will present key outcomes and learnings from the Caribbean experience, and propose a roadmap for continued cooperation between the African Union and CARICOM regarding reparations advocacy and campaigning in the global arena.  It will also address wider the pressing issues of global racial and reparative justice delving into the power of reparations, the unprecedented alliance between the African Union and CARICOM, and the bridging of continents—Africa and the Caribbean. At the news conference Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles is carded to deliver a statement on behalf of Civil Society and the Pan-African Leadership. Other key presenters include HE Francia Marquez, Vice-President of the Republic of Colombia; HE Youssouf Mondoha Assoumani, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Union of Comoros and Chair of the Permanent Representatives Committee of the African Union; HE David Comissiong, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Barbados to CARICOM; Dr. Hilary Brown, Program Manager for Reparations, CARICOM Secretariat; and Mr. Kyeretwie Osei, Head of Programs, AU-ECOSOCC. 

The news conference will take place on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at 9:00 am (AST) at the Conference Room, Sagicor Cave Hill School of Business and Management, The UWI, Cave Hill Campus and is available for public participation by livestream via UWItv at www.uwitv.global,  www.facebook.com.uwitv or Flow Evo cable channels. 

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About ECOSOCC

The Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) was established in July 2004 as an Advisory Organ composed of different social and professional groups of AU Member States. The mandate of ECOSOCC is to contribute, through advice, to the effective translation of the objectives, principles and policies of the African Union into concrete programmes, as well as the evaluation of these programmes. 

About The Open Society Foundations

The Open Society Foundations, founded by George Soros, are the world’s largest private funder of independent groups working for justice, democratic governance, and human rights. This mission is approached through the illuminating principles of justice, equity, and expression—defining characteristics of any truly open society. 

About The Caribbean Pan African Network

The Caribbean Pan African Network was established as a mechanism to facilitate the Caribbean region’s engagement with the African continent in general and the African Union in particular. The network was formed on the 12th of September 2004 at a meeting in Bridgetown Barbados held at the Commission for Pan African Affairs. It was a joint initiative of the Clement Payne Movement of Barbados, the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago and the African Union. 

About The University of the West Indies

The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for the past 75 years. 

From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Open Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

 The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world. 

The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean in the World University Rankings, it is also in the top 25 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

2023 marks The UWI’s 75th anniversary. The Diamond jubilee milestone themed “UWI at 75. Rooted. Ready. Rising.” features initiatives purposely designed and aligned to reflect on the past, confront the present, and articulate plans for the future of the regional University. 

Learn more at www.uwi.edu   

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