Caribbean leaders, church representatives and academics have begun a landmark three-day conference in Barbados, calling for a generational commitment to reparative justice that moves beyond remembrance to tangible repair for the legacies of transatlantic slavery.
The notion of reparative justice across the Caribbean, not as a war or vengeance, but as a simple recognition, rooted in historical truths, that when something is damaged, it must be repaired, set the tone for the opening ceremony of the Confronting Codrington Interdisciplinary Conference on Reparative Justice and the Legacies of Transatlantic Slavery.
The meeting, which runs from Monday to Wednesday at the Crane Hotel in St Philip, brings together academics, policymakers and advocates to confront a legacy that still shapes the Caribbean’s social and spiritual landscape – and to ask, with sincerity and urgency, how societies built on the trauma of enslavement can move from remembrance to repair.
Among those delivering remarks was the Minister of Labour Colin Jordan, who reminded attendees that the task before them was generational: “We have to reckon with our past and we have to build on these lessons. We have to be deliberate and intentional if we are to share those lessons that we believe we have understood and learned from, to make sure that we are not just reflecting on the suffering and negatives but using that understanding to propose solutions for future generations.”
His words carried the tone of a challenge, highlighting that the mistakes of the past must not be allowed to repeat themselves, and echoing the broader purpose of the reparative justice project: that meaningful repair requires awareness, education and engagement.
The Reparatory Justice Project is a multifaceted initiative aimed at acknowledging and addressing the enduring legacies of slavery. Its mission, as highlighted by Kevin Farmer, the executive secretary of the Codrington Trust, is to “learn and reflect and have both the academic and community engagement from a wide cross-section that allows us to [ascertain] whether the project plans are doable and, if they are, how we can actually use feedback and engagement as a litmus test on how we can tweak and then move forward again”.
He continued: “This is the first time in the Caribbean that we have a reparatory justice project like this and we believe that it is a project that can only be judged in real time and as such is necessary to have the feedback and reflection as that is exactly what this symposium really symbolises.”
As for the timeline, Farmer said: “The timeline for the project is at least 15 years but as with everything, midpoint every three years we pause and reflect and see how we can move forward again. Because of what we are looking at, the aim is to put systems in place to make it sustainable for at least five to six generations. Then and only then, we can see positive change over time.”
Joining Farmer in framing the project’s moral vision was the Bishop of Barbados and Chair of the Codrington Trust, the Right Reverend Michael Maxwell, who emphasised the Anglican Church’s active role in the initiative.
He said: “As the Bishop of this Diocese, we are very pleased that this is happening, in terms of seeking a response to help particularly those who are descendants from those who have been enslaved. Through this project, we will be assisting many persons to become landowners, particularly those living on the Codrington lands, and helping to uplift them and support their development through education and entrepreneurship.”
Rt Rev Maxwell also noted the importance of collaboration with key partners, including the United Society Partners in the Gospel (USPG), which strengthens both local and global support for the initiative.
General Secretary of USPG, and Executive Secretary of the Codrington Trust, Dr Duncan Dormon, said: “The project is fundamentally important and it is our duty to talk about it so we are all equipped for the journey ahead. The key thing is that we take action too, rather than simply talk about it. So having discussion and dialogue informs what we plan to do as it goes forward.”
Overall, the initiative and conference represent a step towards turning the lessons of history into instruments of justice.
(DT)
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