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STATEMENT FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR: “Not us!” Caricom Reparations Commission.

For Release Upon Receipt - July 2, 2025

UWI


The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica W.I. Tuesday, July 1, 2025—The following statement is issued by the Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Professor Sir Hilary Beckles in his capacity as Chair of the CARICOM Reparations Commission.

 There has been much media reporting in the last week referencing a Caribbean group visiting Britain and the European Union with a reparations agenda; statements to the effect that these individuals, comprising a few from the Caribbean but mostly Europeans, will engage in reparations conversations with political officials and civil society groups.

As a consequence, the Caricom Reparations Commission (CRC) has received several requests for interviews and comments, necessitating a statement to clarify the situation for the betterment of all concerned.

These persons who have arrived in Europe are neither members of the CRC nor formally affiliated.  

For over a decade, the CRC has been actively promoting reparatory justice campaigns on a global basis and has adopted an open-tent policy approach to facilitate broad-based advocacy. Through mutual agreements and formal Memoranda of Understanding, the CRC has partnered with many organisations, including universities, churches, families and financial institutions.

The CRC has recently received approval from the Caricom Heads of Government to inaugurate a European public relations campaign to share its vision of reparations with political stakeholders and the general public. It is actively working on the design of the same. Supporting the historic grassroots movement with government support, the CRC is deeply mindful of its complex diplomatic role and public responsibility in shaping the regional and global movement.

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About Professor Sir Hilary Beckles

Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, an Economic Historian, was installed as the 8th Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies (The UWI) on May 30, 2015. He is also a distinguished academic, international thought leader, United Nations committee official, and global public activist in social justice and minority empowerment. For his complete biography, visit:  https://www.uwi.edu/vcbiography.php

 

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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 Global 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. In 2024, The UWI launched a first-of-its-kind global online graduate business school focused on leadership within the context of supporting the SDGs.

Learn more at www.uwi.edu  

 

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