14 Caribbean nations sue Britain, Holland and France for slavery reparations

slaveryBritain, along France and the Netherlands are being sued by 14 Caribbean ‘countries which are demanding what could be hundreds of billions of pounds in reparations for slavery,’ a report published on Thursday in the British Daily Mail said.

According to the report, CARICOM, together with Haiti and Suriname, believes that the European governments should pay for the “awful, lingering legacy of the Atlantic slave trade.”

Dominica is a member of CARICOM.

The British law firm, Leigh Day, has been hired to take the matter to court. According to the Mail, Leigh Day recently won compensation for hundreds of Kenyans tortured by the British colonial government during the Mau Mau rebellion of the 1950’s.

It is not sure how much money is sought by CARICOM but the Mail reported that “senior officials have pointed out that Britain paid slave owners £20 million when it abolished slavery in 1834. That sum would be the equivalent of £200 billion today.”

In the lawsuit, CARICOM is claiming that slavery condemned the region to a poverty that is being felt to this day..

“The awful legacy of these crimes against humanity ought to be repaired for the developmental benefit of our Caribbean societies and all our peoples,” said Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is a historic wrong that has to be righted.”

CARICOM has insisted that they are hoping to reach a settlement with the European countries and will only take legal action if talks collapse.

A CARICOM reparations commission, led by Barbadian historian Sir Hilary Beckles, has been set up to work out who should be paid and how much.

Beckles said Britain is being focused on since it was the largest slave owner in the 1830’s when slavery was abolished.

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177 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    October 15, 2013

    Most of the men and women that where taken to the Trading forts,in west Africa where caught in wars between different tribes,the process of handing your ancestors over to the white trader was very brutal,by the way most of the white traders where married to black women and had mixed race childern,as i said the process of handing over to the Royal Africa Company traders (Queen of England’s gold ivory and slaving company)was brutal,you only got taken in to the fort barracoon if you where lucky, at the gate if the forts white surgeon,did not deem you fit to travel,then a execution by beheading was carried out by the black executioner,thru those trading fortress in west Africa over 600 tons of 24ct gold was handed over to the English forts during the years 1631 to 1807,this was giving just to the English during and excluding what the French,Dutch,Danish,got in gold weight,part of this gold should have been given to your ancestors to help them resettle and have a fresh start,and not be Chattel enslaved,instead England or Britain struck the gold into gold coinage i.e the Guinea pound coin a 22 carat gold coin,that guinea coin had the equivalent buying power of 148 pound in today’s money,they got that money from the same fortress in West Africa at the same time,plus over 1000 tons of ivory which is worth 4000 tons of 24 ct gold.that’s what they also took from West Africa,Europe’s gold currencies where made of West African gold in the times of slavery!!!.

    • History Geek
      October 15, 2013

      Two good books for you to read are ‘How Europe Underdeveloped Africa’ by Walter Rodney and ‘Africans and Africa in the Making’…I don’t remember the author but it will help you to further develop your points.

  2. History Geek
    October 15, 2013

    As a Historian, a writer and an enlightened mind, during the days of Atlantic Slave trade, slaves were considered 3/4s of a man. This simply meant that he/she was classified as a chattel slave. The term ‘chattel slavery’ may be defined as a system where slaves were bought and sold as property, they had absolutely no rights as a human being: not allowed an income, not allowed to get married, not allowed to own property, not allowed to be a witness in the court of law against an Anglo-Saxon individual and the list goes on even further.Simultaneously, in Europe during the period of the Industrial Revolution there was a significant amount of injustices against the people of European descent like child labor in Great Britain, for example.
    However, to understand the true nature as to why the 14 Caribbean nations are suing Great Britain, France and Holland for repatriation, one’s mind must be totally unbiased. As I mentioned earlier slaves were defined as chattel (Please check above again for definition) while on the other hand, despite the fact that there were a lot of injustices to Europeans, they all gained wages and had rights in some form or fashion, therefore, they were considered intellectual human beings.
    It is for this reason, that the 14 Caribbean Nations are suing for repatriation. Slaves were never considered as humans. Great Britain, Holland and France built their economies on the backs of chattel slavery. It was an injustice to humanity on a whole, and not the color of one’s skin. There is enough evidence to back up this fact internationally. Furthermore, the United Nations (UN) have opened up the doorways of this lawsuit through human rights. These are the main ingredients for winning the lawsuit and not racial prejudice .

  3. Dominican
    October 14, 2013

    This is long coming.
    to the ignorant fool that said that we should not have been granted our independence go to France, america, and england and see how they treat us event the kids that born there. We are treated like second class citizens are you for real. Wake up my brother they do not like black people only fopr their good use. Leve

  4. truthman
    October 14, 2013

    that is just men in power head that come big as they hear billions they want to pocket it the bible said forgive and forget. let our great great great grand parents come and sue not all you.it good for all you to lose and britain make a lawsuit on all you let me see how all you will pay sets of idiots

    • Ry
      October 15, 2013

      U have to be English smh such an ignorant statement. Aren’t English families benefiting from inheritance ? So families today should be compensated. The Queen and Royal families are still benefiting !!! Sue their

  5. Ben Dong
    October 14, 2013

    We could also sue Itali for what Christopher Columbus did to our people. That case would settle faster. An we could sue the French (France) for not colonizing us instead of the Brutish.

  6. Francisco Telemaque
    October 13, 2013

    Lennox, my question here is: and this is not intended to discourage any effort, however, I have not found nor heard of any set precedence which can be used in a court of law, and that’s international law, in the world court in Hugo Land: (The Hague) in South West Netherlands in the South of Holland, or wherever it is locate today to substantiate such a claim.

    In the first place all the victims of slavery are dead, that posses a problem also, and I wonder who shall be the benefactors, government, as in the term politicians or every individual born West Indian, of their individual islands no matter where we are on the planet!

    I am concerned about.

    My grandmother was born in the year 1890, and expired in the year of 1993, at an age of one (103) hundred-three years old. I doubt her mother, and father were born within that three or four hundred years of slavery. I mean the powers that be are entitle to file a case if that’s their wish, however, I do not anticipate anything significant to develop from such complaint.

    If the islands are successful, then a precedence will be established: however, that does not guaranty a pay off. Certainly I am very much aware of the American born Japanese who were interned by the United States during World War ll: however, even at that by the time such a case for reparations came to a conclusion, only two people became recipients of some money, since all the claimants had already died.

    I do not wish to be negative about it, but I view this as a loosing battle, maybe our nation would be better off to take the Bird (Ave’s) island dispute between Dominica, and Venezuela to the same court, our chances of prevailing over Venezuela is much better, and seem more certain, since the British knows the facts regarding the ownership of the little bit of burial ground, which may contain enough oil which could be used to change our economic status rather than going to fight for the billions, or trillions of East Caribbean dollars some politicians are hoping for.

    Now that’s my humble opinion; no woman, man boy, or girl has to agree with me; as a human I do error, to error is to be human!

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • oseigun
      October 21, 2013

      WoW! I can’t believe what I am reading here. It is very distressing to know that people still think like you do.
      If you were a millionaire and died and owed left debts behind, your death does not cancels the debt. You benefactors will have to settle the debt on your behalf, wouldn’t they?
      And if you had done something wrong to someone and were sued in court for the act would there have to be some kind of settlement to satisfy the egregious act you did before your passing?
      The fact is, the profits inherited by the offspring of slave owners and slave profiteers which have enriched their offspring for generations, should be handed down and shared by the offspring of slaves so that they too can get a good start in life just like the offspring of the slave masters.
      The Kennedy’s still make a nickle of every bottle of liquor sold in the USA today. The father, Joseph Kennedy, supposedly boasted about the number of bodies he left on the railroad tracks, while building his ladder of fortune and fame…
      I suppose it would be okay for someone to take your property away and keep it forever, for generations.
      With a mindset like yours, no wonder we are still in the condition we are in.
      Seek out information on “THE SPELL OF LEVIATHAN”. Just something to think about.

  7. John
    October 13, 2013

    Dominica should sue Britain for allowing Dominica independence and demand re- establishment of statehood with Britain, Dominica should have never asked for independence the country was better off associated with Britain. Even if the slavery suit is sucessful the people will never see any compensation the lawyers and politicians will get all the money.

    • Francisco Telemaque
      October 13, 2013

      John you do not know the history, and how we came to be independent; we did not demand or ask Britain for our Independence, that is something they forced down our throat.

      Wether we wanted to become Independent or not they told us it was time to part company. There were many different reasons the British wonted to rid themselves of Caribbean, and some African countries, one of the reason is that we were a burden on the economy of their country England.

      Another reason is that we were asking them to leave also, in our quest for political, not realizing that political power without economic we were already doomed!

      Had Dominica, and the rest of the Caribbean islands with the exception of Trinidad, and Jamaica who put themselves out and seek their Independence and gained it, Britain forced all the other islands into it independence; take it or leave it we had no choice in the matter!

      And if you do not believe me ask Dr. Lennox Honeychurch, he is the historian not me he I am sure will be in a better position than I to explain it to you

      If I have to talk about it, I will have to talk about few white people who was in Dominica operating L Rose & Co, Gease Industries, the Banana Estates as a matter of fact, and how we treated the few whites among us, I do not wish to get into that, cause if I do I will have to mention Lennox father name also, and I do not wish to open his wounds which might be still in the healing process.

      I am not saying we had to hold onto the British coat tail forever, but the misery most people of the Caribbean including Dominica found ourselves into; we brought that on ourselves.

      I would rather chose economic power first, then when that is accomplished, I the kid would have fought for political power.

      Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

      • Anonymous
        October 15, 2013

        Between 1663 and 1820,Britain Holland and France currency was made,from West African Gold, the British pound was called the Guinea,which they got from the gold coast modern day Ghana,the Queen of England gold state carriage is made from the same west African gold,1760

    • contact
      October 13, 2013

      da did not ask for it.we were discarded. ask honeychurch to submit the application. dno do your work and educate those children of former slaves.

  8. Anonymous
    October 13, 2013

    Some people need to go and read their history books on how slavery first started with Africa.
    Also the British all ready payments and gave lane to the people. What about all the contributions that the British have made towards the development before Dominica became independence. People speak about poverty in Dominica , they need to start paying taxes so that Dominica can start to develop their country and stop depending on other countries to provide all the time. For example export food, people selling in the market need to pay tax, international airport is needed, but for tourist to go to Dominica you need to get rid of the beggars round town, and build upon your police force 24 hour as industrialization brings corruption, instead of the Chinese working on the road, why don’t people of Dominica complete this work. So really you want money for doing noting, if you want to sue Britain that is fine, but remember Dominica still belongs, and if you go back to your history book the British paid the French, and if you were attack by another country who do you this would help you. The British.

    • I am Free
      October 13, 2013

      The Europeans were greedy bunch of people that’s why there was slavery. The stole the Amerindians lands so they could become wealthy. They built their countries on the backs of black people. They called us, the black people, apes and said we were not human beings and exploited us for riches and wealth. They used the Bible, God’s word for the bases for what they did. Which was wrong in the eyes of God.

      The Bible says “Vengeance is my says the Lord, I will repay.” God is repaying them for the wrong they did. See what is happening to them. The same wealth they were fighting for, stealing and causing harm and pain for is eroding from them.

    • wii
      October 14, 2013

      fully agree with what you said. If you check Dambisa Moyo book ‘Dead Aid’, its easy to see that Dominica clearly developed a culture of aid then people expect someone to come and resolve their troubles: British, American, Chinese etc….same as Africans and strongly believing that somebody owes them something…

  9. Neg
    October 12, 2013

    on behalf of my fore parents I would welcome that payday, culture saw that coming.

  10. Ben Dong
    October 12, 2013

    No money can undo the Brainwash.

  11. Dominican Mon
    October 12, 2013

    Oh Mon, you got to be jiving me! The ignorance of this action shows our own stupidity and laziness. Our failure as a people to be a Nation of free and proud.

    Because we STILL let Government Leaders keep us in poverty, we blame others. Wake up Mon!

    • Bushmaninda
      October 13, 2013

      Think deeper my brother think deeper

  12. Bra
    October 12, 2013

    “As a person think, that’s what they become”

    If you think you are poor, you are poor. If you think with a slavish mentality, you will remain in mental slavery. “Free your mind and the rest will follow.”

    I’m black. I’m not poor. I was born rich and I will die rich. “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”

    Your mental attitude is what you need to change to change your life. One love to all Dominicans!

  13. slim
    October 11, 2013

    No amount of Money can erase the generational darkness that is covering black people, in this day and age when to talk to a little black boy he bows his head and digs his toes in the ground, unlike a little white boy he looks you freight inthe face and tell you like it is, this is not by accident, these slave master new exactly what they were doing, they were sowing that seed of division

    • Anonymous
      October 13, 2013

      What a load of nonsense .

  14. anonymous2
    October 11, 2013

    Quit living in and blaming the past. They won’t give you anything. Remember it is the govt. representatives that enforced the rules of the mother country and they are all dead as well as most if not all of the people who lived under those conditions at that time.

    The there are several reasons why DA is not moving ahead 1. because the money people don’t want it to; 2 because the younger generations have come under the spell of TV and electronics for mind control; 3. the people have become lazy and complacent and think that the world owes them a living by entitlement; Change the mind set and change the country. It wasn’t this way 35 yrs. ago. Then there was a since of community. Now it is a “me” society.

  15. W.O.W.
    October 11, 2013

    What a great idea. Wonder if I can sue Rome. ? Think one of my Great, great, great. great. great grandfathers was eaten by a lion. I should get a really good payout.

  16. Jee Dub
    October 11, 2013

    wow, and what about those that told the slaves to be patient and obedient and everything will be ok when they die? And up to now they continue to do that,(teachings)and so many still comply/believe.
    I still cant understand why so many of us are so welcoming to ideas like these …not good.

  17. Edward Ravalliere
    October 11, 2013

    Gosh, Ravalliere did not come on slave ship they arrived on the masters ship, so i guess no claim for us.. i would do with some of that doe…

  18. aa
    October 11, 2013

    Visa visa visa!

  19. UDOHREADYET
    October 11, 2013

    If Jews can get reparations for the holocaust then the Caribbean can get reparations for slavery. They should forgive debt, allot a percentage of the income they made from slavery to the treasuries of the islands which can then be distributed to islanders in the form of a tax return and also offer an allotment of professional/expert human labor hours and equipment from said countries as a means of advancing the development in addition they can offer educational scholarships to a number of universities for Caribbean students seeking higher education.

    • J.F.
      October 11, 2013

      Hmmm, what about the British Navy which is on tour of the Caribbean stopping drug runners today. They managed to take off the streets 58 million sterling pounds worth of cocaine and cannabis. Does this count ???

      • Garvey Teachings
        October 11, 2013

        @JF what does that have to do with the article? Knowledge is power.

      • three hunna
        October 12, 2013

        Nope…because if we weren’t going through such hard times, our ppl wouldn’t need to involve in drugs…its like their stitching a cut they gave us.

      • Anonymous
        October 13, 2013

        And if your people (White people = Europeans) were not greedy for drugs, there would not be drugs passing through the Caribbean Sea.

      • I am Free
        October 13, 2013

        If your people (white people = Europeans) were not greedy for drugs, there would not be any drugs being shipped through the Caribbean Sea.

      • UDOHREADYET
        October 18, 2013

        What does drugs have to do with reparations for slavery? Where do you think the drugs are going to, where do you think they coming from. Not the Caribbean. Police and the military have the same tactic they rape you while they tell you its for your own good.

  20. lol
    October 11, 2013

    Like Caribbean people so see themselves like Africans. Not one of those government ministers or their citizens will consider ‘repatriation’ to Timbuktu in Mali. Now that the economies are on brink of collapse they’re asking for reparations,.. the only apparent alternative from banana, tourism and now passports?

  21. yes I
    October 11, 2013

    Ha it was time

  22. LOL
    October 11, 2013

    Well I understand suing, however, I don’t think it should be for monetary gain. I think we should work out something with these European countries in the area of visa free travels, free education etc… and ability to seek employment there without having to go through the long process of work permits etc…

  23. Anonymous
    October 11, 2013

    i wonder how this money is going to be distributed. and when do we draw the line in determining our own destiny.

    dominicans should now sue mr. skerrit for not giving them jobs and giving chinese instead and keeping them in poverty through the red clinic

  24. Anonymous
    October 11, 2013

    What ever slave money all you receive, let me know. I will double it. So if you get one Thousand pounds I’ll throw in another Thousand. All the Chinese holding Dominica passport will want a share of the slave-mein Pie.

    • dayday
      October 12, 2013

      When Lennox become PM, I hope he sends those chinese back to where they came from. Eddison started bringing them in long before Skerritt.

  25. Mercy
    October 11, 2013

    Every time the Jews open their mouth they are getting paid for the Holocaust, so what good for the goose is good for the gander, so we blacks deserve to be paid for what our people before us suffered

  26. Anonymous
    October 11, 2013

    stop looking for you all poket what about the less fortunate the best payment is to make our passport international so who want to can go and who want to stay will stay that what was missing in d abolished agrement.

  27. Anonymous
    October 11, 2013

    Finally!!! ontop exploiting our lands and our forefathers, today our passports are still restricted by their own countries. WE DESERVE EVERYTHING THEY CAN HAVE. For we have made them rich and now they try to paint an image of good will and kindness by offering handouts when they see it fit. Then they are praised and hailed as heroes. Awaken Children of Israel they can’t conceal their lies for much longer. Jehovah is waking us up from our slumber.

  28. The Authorities
    October 11, 2013

    Our “Think Tank” has concluded that the outcome with highest probability is:

    – The Plaintiffs (14 Caribbean nations) will sue the Defendants (Britain, Holland, France).
    – The Defendants will blame their monarchy.
    – Although France’s monarchy ended in 1870, France and the existing monarchs will blame the Jews as the slave-ships were mostly owned and operated by Jewish slave-traders.
    – The Jews will blame the Christians Churches because they always blessed the ships and cloaked them with the protection of Christ before embarking on each journey.
    – Then finally the Churches will blame God by quoting scripture (like Genesis 9: 20-27) which authorised them to do what they did.

    The Plaintiffs will therefore say they are not responsible as slavery was an act of God.

    Remember the recent contaminated baby milk fiasco in China where the people blamed the politicians, the politicians blamed the grocery stores who blamed the farmers who blamed the cows.

  29. zulu
    October 11, 2013

    Although i think this is right and just and europe must pay i do not trust our caribbean governments will handle disbursments properly. We will see issues. History has shown us black man has a problem with uniting on such cause see how long we been independent and bajans ain’t like other west indians in there place and there is still a big island small island mentalit
    that fund would be better off placed in caricom hands to provide low interest loans for caricom members for small community based development initiatives. If the try to give island by determining who gets what, i see rough seas ahead.

  30. Zor
    October 11, 2013

    Once again, our Caribbean leaders have resorted to begging. Only this time they’re calling it reparation! 8-O

  31. Anonymous
    October 11, 2013

    Haiti is the only country suing anyone

  32. as i feel it
    October 11, 2013

    interesting i look forward in seeing that one pan out.

  33. Anonymous
    October 11, 2013

    I do not think it should be about money because no sum however large can compensate for the atrocities that our fore fathers face

  34. Anonymous
    October 11, 2013

    I’m still waiting for my 40 acres and a mule here in the U.S. Maybe you guys will be more successful in Dominica.

  35. Anonymous
    October 11, 2013

    Africa is the first country that should be sued cause it was the greed of our black brothers that cause them to go perpetuate the slave trade.

    • mb
      October 11, 2013

      I so agree with your comment, black people always go on about white people taking us as slaves and seem to ignore or choose to forget that it was the black people who sold other black people to the white people in the first place, and it was the blacks who snitched on the black slaves who tried to run away so the could gain favour with their so called masters.

      • Justice and Truth
        October 12, 2013

        To this day they cannot get along, not even on this Website.

      • fed up
        October 13, 2013

        100% true

  36. valda Bruno Durand
    October 11, 2013

    Well finally, i do not care if nothing comes of it, but its time that something is done. There is so much that i could say bt lets see how this plays out.

  37. Anonymous
    October 11, 2013

    Good move for our ancestors. only just for them. I don’t look at money as a solution but the hurt and pain continues till today, and from above they can see we have not been able to do much about it. Yes we found equality (kind of), but it is now time for them to pay for their crimes. An apology is not enough. The modern Governments found guilty of crimes against humanity have had to pay. I hope after this though,if CARICOM wins, all those with the chains still weighing them down round their neck will be able to get up and walk in freedom. I for one don’t have those chains weighing me down,but i know others do. Hopefully we will be able to move on.

  38. Israelite
    October 11, 2013

    Deutoronomy 28:68, this was our prophecy of what happened to us now my people do you see that we are decendants of Ancient Israel? The dry bones prophesied in Ezekiel is coming to life. Thanks to Yahweh/Jehovah our peoples eyes are opened.

  39. Linton
    October 11, 2013

    Slavery was Skerrit’s fault. He should pay.Then we could afford the airport and Dominica airline that i promissed you.

  40. thiny
    October 11, 2013

    So u all not happy to be in tge Caribbean??……u mad white man brought u here.??..we all would be in Africa if not for slavery……wow….i’m here because of slavery…..sorry for what u went to whoever my ascendant s were……

    • Anonymous
      October 12, 2013

      You are so stupid.

    • Justice and Truth
      October 12, 2013

      It was sad and difficult for the slaves who suffered. It is something that should never have occurred but it did. Too late for regrets and reparations. They are now all gone. There is nothing wrong with occasionally reminiscing about it for it is history. However, why keep it up?
      I am on earth and there is nothing that I can do about it. The slaves who were my ancestors had to suffer for me to be here and of mixed origin. Despite their sufferings, God arranged that I would be alive and of mixed heritage. Why should I waste time arguing about it?
      Some people love to dwell on black this and black that; always bringing it up as if there is nothing else to converse about. It is as if they continue to live in the past. I am not part of that. I am moving on and in years. There are better things to do and consistently converse about in the present.

  41. bigmack
    October 11, 2013

    Back in those days it was so hard, always had to b running for my life and protecting my family. I remembered the day when the slave owners captured my uncle in 1835, and i had to hide on a tree in the field while i film with my nokia flash light! so if the authorities need evidence to take to court, contact me. still got pics and videos. r.i.p uncle pallet!

  42. Anonymous
    October 11, 2013

    I would be interested to see how this would be paid out if successful, but something tells me that I will probably not be alive to see that. Would this be in the form of money paid to governments or in the form of favors like low interest loans? In any case, a win here, would be gigantic.

  43. grell
    October 11, 2013

    i hope the poor people in the caribbean see this money,the corrupt governments we have right now,dont trust them @ all,our ancestors worked hard and was treated very inhumane,so you leaders no exception to you all.

  44. me again
    October 11, 2013

    I guess if we are to do that, we should also sue our now and then political leaders and managers for using us as slaves.They took all our money in taxes,over work us for little returns.

  45. JORN DOUGH
    October 11, 2013

    I see visa restrictions coming soon to enter Britain. These governments can’t find innovative ways to generate revenue and the only way they seem to know is by high taxes. Give them $200 Billion and keep track of it to see how much goes into their pockets and in the pocket of those affiliated with them, we are in the state that we are because our politicians are too corrupt and only look out for the best interest at the expense
    of our poor folks. lets keep it real..taxes going up, salaries going down, social security going up cost of living going up, food prices going up and no one is claiming responsibility there is always a poor cheap excuse and we the people fall for it. You mean to tell me with all the opportunities these politicians have been given they are still backtracking 160 years ago that is over 1 century of blame…..to be continued…..

    • October 11, 2013

      We got a heads-up on the happenings as a result of slavery. We have to keep track of the process and see where it leads us. If and when a settlement is reached, we should ascertain benefits do not only go into any particular pocket but to recipients of slavery. Remember, Government is NOT the recipient.

    • Tyre hit de road
      October 11, 2013

      BUll So what

    • Massacre
      October 11, 2013

      First of all you start out with a negative point.No Country has taxed its way to wealth. I do not know what race you are, but it is clear that you are very insensitive to the plight that Slavery has caused to the lives of Black people all over the world today. Still we are the only ones that is looked at any where we go! Becaue of the lies that were perpatrated on us.Yes we are easy loving people and that is why the Europeans came like Wolf in Sheep clothing when they presented themselves to the African people in the 1400’s.
      The most important thing is to get some money in CARICOM.

      • JORN DOUGH
        October 11, 2013

        It wasn’t just Europeans taking Africans from Africa the Aficans themselves were to be blamed too because they were equally involved in the slave trade by helping capture rival tribes and selling or trading them with the Europeans for guns and all sorts of other Goods. by the way I am as black as midnight

      • Justice and Truth
        October 12, 2013

        In view of all this, it is too bad all of us cannot love one another and get along in all respects. There is no unity among us. Note also the crimes and murders.
        I do think we should concentrate on getting along with peace and unity. At this stage in our life, this should be first and foremost.

    • trolol
      October 11, 2013

      Hit the nail right on the head! Explained it better than me anyway.

  46. young woman
    October 11, 2013

    No amount of money can pay the pain and suffering our foreparents went through. But i do believe we deserve all the money that they worked for. And allow our passport to be international like thiers.
    Plz make sure we the grand and great grands get our parents money..it not for the government. It for the people…..

    • Tyre hit de road
      October 11, 2013

      But The 200 Billion or more is the best that can be done; it would help the children and off spring of our four Fathers to regain some sort of development. Think of all that has been stripped from us.Its true that this won’t cure all the pain and negative effects that we have suffered through that we experience even today but it is a start maybe they should pay that every 25- 50 years or so. what do you want ? an apology? no ! Gives us the money Now!!!

  47. jazz53
    October 11, 2013

    This is great news, I do hope every individual black person get a piece of the pie!For it is on the backs of the black people the accumulated all the wealth they are enjoying today.long over due!!.

    • derp
      October 11, 2013

      But my father white my mother mulatoo I look white where my piece of the pie huh??? I Dominican too wii

    • October 11, 2013

      America has gotten a portion of their settlement. The Caribbean took too long already, but I think they had to build up courage and follow guidelines.

      Yes, this is LONG OVERDUE. Watch Government on this one.

  48. contact
    October 11, 2013

    please DNO please print the history of the inhabitants of dominica.that is why dominicans are so ignorant.

  49. kakador grandson
    October 10, 2013

    boy that talking race is now going global;
    is this a shift in the blame game?
    who will be responsible for our share,since it’s a bajan that is responsible for who get what.
    tony astaphan?since he is SC he will feel he is in charge.
    The newly Rich will get richer,and my great great grand father,KAKADOR,will be mashed on again.
    guess i will just have to chant psalm 121 all day long,and satisfy my soul,like in the fields.

  50. Big-Bannan
    October 10, 2013

    Even if we don’t get a penny, this is a good eye opener to some of us who don’t eve know that our forefathers actually came from Africa in chains (ordered by the quin)

    • October 11, 2013

      Totally in agreement. The rich always get richer because we carry the label “FEAR”. Who APPOINTED the man from BARBADOS representative for the Caribbean? Does he hold ALL of the DEGREES in ACCOUNTING or MANIPULATION?

    • October 11, 2013

      I am one that did not know my forefathers came from Africa. How do you know that is where yours came from? Is it because you are black? FYI ALL slaves did not come from Africa, and if so, they were NOT ALL BLACK. My forefathers are BOTH black and white.

    • John paul
      October 11, 2013

      Well one of my forefathers came from Scotland,another came from France and still another came from the Kalinago ,I alsa have African Blood so what do I do?
      I hope the Lawyers are not white because they are going to get the Lion’s share.The rest will be fought over by the politicians most of whom are Mullatto anyway starting with gonzales.

      what happens when the Europeans say “Well You took us to Court we dont owe You anymore so no more Aid”

      • Justice and Truth
        October 12, 2013

        You do not have a race – too mixed. :lol: This is what I inform people about myself and all those who are of mixed race which most of us are, if not all of us.

  51. Big-Bannan
    October 10, 2013

    Now we talking.

  52. Justice and Truth
    October 10, 2013

    Do you not know that they are of mixed heritage?

  53. Francisco Telemaque
    October 10, 2013

    “The great hope of the emancipated slaves”
    “The freed slaves needed land to prosper. Released from physical bondage, they owned nothing, had no education, no connections in society, and no access to money or credit. Four million of them began a new era in this way, in the spring of 1865.

    On January 16, 1865, William Tecumseh Sherman issued orders calling for the confiscation of land in Georgia and South Carolina, to be redistributed to freed slaves. By the summer of that year, roughly 400,000 acres of farmland had been divided amongst 10,000 freed slaves. Many of the slaves received a mule. From this limited program emerged the infamous cry of “forty acres and a mule”.

    The above is all about the emancipation of slavery in America, and though many free slaves received that forty acres, and a Mule, the majority of the emancipated slaves were betrayed when the Government of the United reneged, and the majority of the former slave never received their forty (40) acres and the mule.

    To this very day, jokingly on many college, and university campus it is usual to hear black students say “I (we) are still waiting on my (our) forty acres, and the mule.” I quoted all of the above to remind all those who believe they are going come into billions of dollars which the wind will be blowing in from the European country’s as compensation for the four hundred years or so of slavery, they the Prime Ministers of Caribbean will be waiting for a long time.

    Gonsalves will turn white in his coffin, in the that six feet of St. Vincent cemetery plot of land before he can get his hands on a single British pound sent to him by the British government.

    Every island of the Caribbean, upon attaining independence from Britain, the Government of Britain gave to the new West Indian “colonial slave masters, and dictators, a certain amount of money which represents I believe the number of years they kept us in bondage, while they plundered our land.

    the British gave to our government an amount totaling fifty (50,000,000,00) pounds, in that package could have come an International Airport, rather the powers that be then, a labor party government preferred to build a municipal airport at Cane Field which was rendered useless from its inception.

    I do not believe the Europeans will budge, because if the give free money to the greedy politicians like Gonsalves, and the guy in Barbados, all of the African continent was colonized, at some time, thus they will also have to compensate the Africans also, I hope I will be alive to see the outcome.

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • October 11, 2013

      Right on the money, Francisco. The airport at Canefield was and is still USELESS. We may ALL be gone by the time, if at all, and decision is reached.

    • Wesleyman
      October 11, 2013

      @ Francisco Ettiene Dods Telemaque, what does that have to do with the article at hand, lets not just prove that we can do a goggle search and copy and paste info, lets use the information to educate ourselves.
      Part of the problem I see here is the allocation of that money even if the government of these europian countries decide to pay.
      And when we receive this money for the physical slavery, who then are we gonna sue for the mental slavery that allows black politicians in a black country to use it’s people as pawn to it’s own ends. Cut it out, I am not poor because my great great great grandfather was a slave, I am poor because I was not afforded the opportunity, and I did not take advantage of the opportunity that was granted to me… there are poor white people all over the world, is that because somebody enslaved their fore parents?
      Did the slave owners tell Charles Saverin to cripple the economy beyond repair, did they tell Patrick John to do the foolishness that he did to put the country in such a mess, did the slave owners buy land in Wesley just so the new govt. decide not to build the airport that would allow nationals and tourist alike to come to mother nature without delay? was it because of some British, French or Dutch initiative that Skeritt came to office broke and is now one of the richest people in the Caribbean? Robert Mogabe was not the son of a slave, what was his problem then? lets stop blaming greed and mismanagement on Slavery, as a boy growing up in Wesley, Flobel Laville and the Armours were enslaving people on their estates, none of these people were white, their children could not sit on the same bench with us in school, so they brought their own, the reason that generations of the people who were on these estates cannot read and write was not because of the british, french…etc, it was because of the same black people who saw an opportunity to take advantage of their poorer brothers and sisters, so calm down with your American talk,you knew slavery in Londonderry and eden estates even though the white people were long gone.

      • Francisco Telemaque
        October 12, 2013

        Mr. Wesleyman, if you cannot link, or see what I wrote have to do with the article, that impressed upon me that you lack reading comprehension!

        I pointed out that when Dominica became independent, the British government gave to our country, fifty million pounds (quid’s). That was indeed the gratuity for the British involvement on the island, dating back to slavery.

        I sad part of the package of the fifty (50,000,000.00) million pounds was a plan for a better airport in Dominica, but because every Dominica hopeful politician beat the drums of moving Melville Hall Airport to Roseau, instead, of Patrick John used that money to build a new International Airport, they decided to build what you find at Cane Field today.

        What is so hard or difficult to understand about that, I write like a kindergarten student, so that I can be understood, what is wrong with your reading ability, and interpretation of the English language Mr Wesley King.

        Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!

        And incase you have difficulties understanding the term “gratuity” that word is defined to mean something as valuable as the fifty million pounds voluntarily, or beyond an obligation, for services rendered, be it for services rendered of ones free will, or slavery!

        My friend extracting a single dime from the Europeans any time soon for the repatriation of and emancipation of slavery is not that easy! It is the wish of people like Gonsalves who saw this as a windfall for cash, but plenty of them will disappointed.

        If Dominica, and it people could not stand up for Bird island, and Venezuela rail roadbed us and took it away, from us and the British stood by and let it happen how on earth these waste of time politicians are going to fight the European, for money and win.

        You will not live long enough to see that.

        Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

  54. A True Real PATRIOT
    October 10, 2013

    Caribbean politicians have been thinking of doing this for a long time, bet if they really do that it gets tied up in the courts for innumerable years.

  55. Francisco Telemaque
    October 10, 2013

    “The awful legacy of these crimes against humanity ought to be repaired for the developmental benefit of our Caribbean societies and all our peoples,” said Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is a historic wrong that has to be righted.”

    Of all persons, Ralph Gonsalves need to shut up, I dislike that man, he is a cunning, very deceitful, treacherous, and dangerous, this man has betrayed the trust of our people and country, and should at no time in any capacity be allowed to speak a single word on the behalf of our country.

    Our people must constantly remind him of his of his treachery, in betraying our country, I am at the point of almost hating that man, had it not been for that part of God within me, would have proclaimed I hate him, and even the ground he stands on.

    No need to remind others the for my dislike of the man, is because he is the main cause of us not having an International Airport built on the island!

    Slavery was indeed a crime against black defenseless people, however, when Gonzalez lied to the powers that be in Dominica regarding an International Airport, that too is a crime he committed against humanity, since he set the pace to deprive our people the comfort of international travel directly in and out of Dominica.

    Any Dominican who would associate with such a traitor, on a political level, or otherwise would not be very wise!

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

  56. Sout' Rebel
    October 10, 2013

    The Europeans built their nations on the backs of slaves who worked for FREE for over 150 years.They made billions of pounds which the grand children of the SLAVE MASTERS now enjoy.
    We the grand and great grand children of the SLAVES deserve some of this wealth.They must pay for such gross injustice.
    REPERATIONS NOW! PEOPLE JOIN TE STRUGGLE!

  57. Well well
    October 10, 2013

    All you want to step on poupou I hope all you will be able to smell it

  58. Anonymous
    October 10, 2013

    The Europeans made billions of pounds over a period of a hundred and fifty years of free labour while they built and industrialized their countries.
    The children of the SLAVE MASTERS who have benefited should compensate the children of the SLAVES who suffered this gross injustice.
    REPERATIONS NOW! JOIN THE STRUGGLE!!

  59. Anonymous
    October 10, 2013

    Dominicans never want to work for money, beg alone they want to do!

  60. OMG
    October 10, 2013

    Lord have mercy. I can’t believe this one. I can’t stop laughing.What next?

    When DA gets its share I want my portion. Give me for my whole family. I want to be the one to share. Remember I asked first so I should share. :lol:

    I hope the authorities put a payment plan together. The half-whites should not get; or maybe we should give them half. The real black niggers like me should get full price. Nil for the Caribs, the Indians, the Arabs, and the Syrians. Wow

  61. DANZIGER
    October 10, 2013

    Je vous salute Marie piene de grace.

  62. niceboi/#`
    October 10, 2013

    Some of us may have to sue ourselves. We don’t like our own people. We may one day have to sue skerritt.

  63. Neg Mawon
    October 10, 2013

    that’s a good move, nothing was more shameful, heartless and downright wicked than the slave trade…to a certain extent up to this day there are remnants of racism, slavery and the slavery mentality amongst our people. Britain the major exploiter and still what they give us in aid is a mere hand out and still want to direct us and hold us ransom if we do not support certain laws they want to pass! Fire bun them!!

  64. niceboi/#`
    October 10, 2013

    Send mine up in Heaven for me. That case will start when King George is 80 years old.

  65. Maroon
    October 10, 2013

    A court cannot change the slavish mentality…. :-D

  66. vexness
    October 10, 2013

    Well if caricom wins the case, all these countries should go back to Africa when they get paid….me myself slave trade was a blessing in disguised glad I’m on this part of the world, I not in Africa busines, I hope caricom loses that case…work towards carribean unity and integration stop trying to suck blood like socouyan…

  67. me
    October 10, 2013

    so when are we going to sue the AFRICANS for selling us to the Europeans to be used as slaves they sold us for guns,beads , rum and other trinkets so if u gonna sure the Europeans u should sue the west African nations for selling our ancestors into slavery

    • Anonymous
      October 15, 2013

      Britain got a 22 carat gold currency from
      the gold coast at the same time as slavery,named the Guinea

  68. trolol
    October 10, 2013

    keep waiting for money, allu will see plenty. Trying and tell me since 1830 and yall yet to get back on your feet yet? Caribbean people are stupid man and incompetent man? The Caribbean is failing because it is run by imbeciles now they find the best thing to do is go and dig up something that happened 160+ years ago and take people to court? Haiti get so much handouts from Europe when they had their earthquake disaster,and all that just disappear, to be honest they should give it to all you, and deport all Caribbean people from there country and remove all ties with the Caribbean what so ever. See how far they will go, the thing that burning me the most is that they cannot charge their so called slave masters or even their children for that matter because they died 90 million years ago.

    • a man
      October 10, 2013

      u is a majee man… y dno put ur stupud comment na.. dey gotta pay dat

    • Justice and Truth
      October 10, 2013

      Do you know? Or you should know that some of us are descendants of slave owners.

      • John paul
        October 11, 2013

        All of us are .I dont think after 500 years one of us is still pure African.As soon as thos Lovely African women got on the Slave ship they were impregnated by the Captain and crew.Alot of them were Jewish miscreants.The first Children sold into Slavery as a result were the Children of the Captain and crew.As time went on the White women loved the Chocolate men and in the absence of condoms babies I am sure were born .How African are you ? it may be all in Your mind and not much in Your Genes!

      • trolol
        October 11, 2013

        @ Justice and truth, :lol: Yes I am aware of this fact, but what would I accomplish my stating that? I said, “there is no way to charge the original slave masters or even their children for that matter.” Not talking about their great, great grand children. 8-O

      • forreal
        October 12, 2013

        @john paul,i do not dispute that,but look at your skin color,where would you think that you would identify,i did ancestral familly research on ancestery.com,my famlly background lead me to france,guest what,they are white,and very rich,they own wineries and large grape farms,do you stongly beleive that i can go to this people and identify with them,or confront them and say your great great whatever raped my great great grandmother,this would be wrong right?because for all i know,it could have been concensual,my point is,slavery was a wrong,that has given birth to an explosive right,wait you will see,does not matter were you will be,be it heaven or hell,you will bear witness,the bible says so,man has unbalanced the perfection,by which has god has created,and that same perfection is going to rectify the earth and its habitants,in other words,god is not going destroy man,man is going to do destroy his ownself,because of that perfection,man and his greed,the world of capitlism and gain was built on slavery,its only coming back to hunt them,it does not matter we are of african decent,be you half breed or whatever,its were you can identify.

    • Big-Bannan
      October 10, 2013

      Hush, your vessel is so full on nonsense it’s running over.

    • edward cazaubon
      October 11, 2013

      African people in the western region on a whole, has been in slavery longer than they been free. You want to act like you know so much, like you are so smart.. The truth of the matter, you are the one that is stupid and incompetent.. You have no sense of compassion, if it was up to you all african descendants should still be enslave..
      you say it is 160 yrs and you still preaching hate, just because of the color of skin.. If it was up to you there would be no black history, you would tell that man he is still less than a man, your worthless, your stupid and incompetent.. Tired of you people.. all you wanna do is put your hand out for hands out.. Dont you see, for more than 260 yrs, they have been programed that way.. You sound so ignorant.. go study psychology and how to brainwash a human being.. and by the way the colonist foundations were built from slavery and they are still profiting from slavery less 2 centuries ago..

      • trolol
        October 11, 2013

        Your seriously contradicting yourself sir. Where did I state my opinion whether or not I am in favor with slavery? Also see what I mean again? Your calling me a racist and telling me that I cannot forget, SIMPLY BECAUSE I TOLD YOU THAT YOU SHOULD FORGET ABOUT THINGS THAT HAPPENED CENTURIES AGO. Here you are contradicting yourself and truly showing your ignorance.You sound like a sheep that can’t think for yourself, keep reading the white man text books and don’t use the common sense that god has bestowed upon you, then boast how intelligent you’re, “Go and study psychology.” We all need to learn to swallow our pride and accept when we are wrong. Right now economies are crashing globally and one of you imbeciles actually managed to come up with the idea of suing Britain for slavery, the funniest part is only 25% or less of that money will actually be used for the people. #TEAMGREEDY

      • zyx
        July 8, 2020

        well said. he need to learn ABC before psychology.

    • October 11, 2013

      That is not how it works. Europe is not going to deport anyone, unless they are there illegally. Besides, some are still slaves.

      Haiti may have gotten much handouts from Europe not only after the earthquake disaster, but it has been said that Haiti have yet to see any of the monies collected for their rehabilitation.

      • trolol
        October 11, 2013

        I never said they will, I said I would have deport them back to their country since everything is going to be handy dandy after they recieve there billions of dollars. They will not see that rehabilitation money again, it was probably used to buy a politician’s new Toyota Rav4.

    • Justice and Truth
      October 12, 2013

      Some of us are not interested in suing those countries. Some governments take it upon themselves to sue them. I do think it is the height of stupidity on their part.
      My mother told me that her ancestors are from France. My aunt told me that my Great Grand Father was a slave master. It is all part of our family history. I did not have to Google it to know that. What happened happened. We should live and let live.

    • Justice and Truth
      October 12, 2013

      Some of us are not interested in suing those countries. Some governments take it upon themselves to sue them. I do think it is the height of stupidity on their part.
      My mother told me that her ancestors are from France. My aunt told me that my Great Grand Father was a slave master. It is all part of our family history. I did not have to Google it to know that. What happened happened. We should leave and let live.

  69. vieille case
    October 10, 2013

    far too long we black people gut loose,but onable to stand alone always in some slavery nonsence the only thing we learn was to dance dance,who do you think is the slave master of da now?

    • contact
      October 11, 2013

      the one that making them sing on stage nor.

  70. law and order
    October 10, 2013

    While we are at it,let us sue the oil rich Arabs who started it all.Then sue the Africans who captured us and sold us to the Europeans, oh yes I wan my money back, for working for nothing.

    • edward cazaubon
      October 11, 2013

      let face it none of these people were nice, they were all pirates, no one came to a island or country and said inhabitants of the land i am going to buy you and then rule you.. they just pillage and took everything by force like they always do.. i hope the Caribbean suck them dry… like what they did to the caribbean.

  71. Da Sage
    October 10, 2013

    -“Where we are going always reflects where we came from.”

    • October 11, 2013

      Not necessarily true. Where we are going depends on where we want to go. WE, can change OUR situation. WE should NOT ALLOW ANYONE to DICTATE OUR FUTURE. OUR FUTURE is in OUR HANDS.

  72. wat
    October 10, 2013

    They paid the owners? ahben them people was really back to front and left to right!

  73. Surething
    October 10, 2013

    This is fantastic news. Let’s hope we do all the right things, at the right time, in the right sequence and in the right space. Our time is gonna come.

    • October 11, 2013

      KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED. HMM.

  74. g.r
    October 10, 2013

    “In the lawsuit, CARICOM is claiming that slavery condemned the region to a poverty that is being felt to this day.”
    But wait… If it wasn’t for slavery we wouldn’t be here in the first place so…how can we claim slavery made the region poor? Our ancestors were the slaves. If we were the ORIGINAL inhabitants of this island, then maybe we can claim that we were better off before slavery.

    • October 10, 2013

      was thinking the same thing

      • October 10, 2013

        its like saying passing through the birth canal was apinful so i going to sue my mother

    • wii
      October 10, 2013

      yes! thats the point…its so awkward to sue particular country for the slavery because slavery itself wasn’t an ordinary crime..it was entire socio-economic process which had many many beneficiaries and you can’t go for Britain and not sue Portugal and Spain and Arabs at first place. I think some CARICOM leaders just look for some cheap populistic popularity among less educated and highly manipulated people…any person with critical logic will be extremely sceptic about prospects of such litigation….

    • A True Real PATRIOT
      October 10, 2013

      I always think and say IF IT WERE NOT FOR SLAVERY< WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BORN.

      • October 11, 2013

        I would be born because I am here. I was not born from slavery.

      • Anonymous
        October 11, 2013

        Maybe you as an individual but not our civilization. Of course if your mother or father was placed in different situations they probably might not have met hence you not being borne. SMH

  75. thiny
    October 10, 2013

    So u all not happy to be in tge Caribbean??……u mad white man brought u here.??..we all would be in Africa if not for slavery……wow….i’m here because of slavery…..sorry for what u went to whoever my ascendant s were……

    • thiny
      October 11, 2013

      dno ??????

  76. g.r
    October 10, 2013

    How can I sue you for what you’ve done to my ancestors? How can I sue you for something you haven’t done to me? How can I sue you for the fact that I now live in a Caribbean country? How can people actually think this makes sense? So basically nations are broke and looking for money. If you can sue England for slavery, remember they didn’t just leave us high and dry. We ASKED for independence, because we thought we could do better alone. This slavery reparation lawsuit is garbage.

  77. MARIGOTIAN
    October 10, 2013

    Money should be spent on education, health care, infrastructures to lift social standards of living etch.. to be given in cash to no one.

    my opinion!

    • Anonymous
      October 10, 2013

      Just as all the European aid does that Europe pay already… So that not enough then!?! Who greedy now?

    • October 11, 2013

      Marigotian, money should also be spent on MOLESTATION and INCEST PREVENTION.

  78. wii
    October 10, 2013

    interesting how far this madness can lead? if you follow this logic then CARICOM should also sue Arabs who dealt with slave trading through Madagascar, some African states which profited on slavery…but please dont forget that slavery started in Africa long before Europeans arrived..if you go further then maybe Brits could sue Italians for Rome invasion in Britain Islands, Russians should immediately sue Mongolia for Mongol occupation in 1240…Greeks should sue Rome also for occupation…Middle East should surely sue Greece for Alexander the Great road-show across Far and Middle East…

    • g.r
      October 10, 2013

      THANK YOU! This idea is so stupid! By that logic, the Kalinago people should sue us for inhabiting and dominating their country!?

      • Justice and Truth
        October 10, 2013

        Then, it all boils down to those who brought the slaves to Dominica. :lol:

      • forreal
        October 10, 2013

        ah ah sorry to burst your bubble,we were brought here.

      • contact
        October 11, 2013

        who did the kalinago meet here.i am blaming honeychurch for that.

  79. paro
    October 10, 2013

    This action is long over due if you ask me!

    • Anonymous
      October 11, 2013

      DEFINITELY

  80. TED Lewis ( Posie)
    October 10, 2013

    So when we get paid , how much of that money going to Africa because or are we going to buy our tickets back to Africa and give the kallinago people them their Dominica. lol

    On a more serious note , i do hope that we not going to see a reaction by Britain eg making more difficult for the tourist to leave their country while this case stay tied up in the courts for the next 20 30 years.

    i hope we are successful in this fight. this would do our region good.

    • October 10, 2013

      smart point there

    • DA4LYFE
      October 11, 2013

      Not necessarily move back but invest in the emerging markets in Africa. Africa have a vast amount of resources and opportunities to make a lot of money but black people in the diaspora have this negative view about Africa and Africans which in it’s entirety is not true.

      • Anonymous
        October 12, 2013

        They don’t know better. some of them never even left their little island, all they know is what they see on tv which never portray the full or true picture of Africa. I have been to Africa and know better.

  81. Muslim_Always
    October 10, 2013

    Oh Allah, I strongly support this move, make them pay big time.

    Next the Arab world must be targeted for their role in the Arab slave trade as well. Note: These crimes committed by Arabs against Africans have nothing to do with Islamic teachings. Islam met slavery in Arabia and the Holy Qur’an spoke clearly regarding manumission and freeing slaves – a total of over 39,000 slaves were freed in the time of prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. Bilal ibn Rabal was one of these former slaves, the Islamic call to prayer was commissioned to Bilal by Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.

    • Anonymous
      October 10, 2013

      Then Jamaicans sued for all the trouble they bring in Europe and America …. It’s endless cautionay!

    • Justice and Truth
      October 10, 2013

      The entire world as Aalso mericans, all those who were affected by terrorists actions of the Talibans and Al Qaeda should sue as well for the numerous loss of lives and property.

    • John paul
      October 11, 2013

      Yeah nothing to do with Islamic teachings eh?Dont take slaves just Kill the Ifidel if He refuses to join up!

    • Israelite
      October 11, 2013

      The slaves weree from Israel and Mohammed helped to enslave them because they would not convert to Islam his newly appointed religion. He marched with an army and killed and enslaved all who opposed him. The israelites fled to the mountains of Africa and were captured by the children of HAM another black race and were sold into slavery from the west coast of africa. Ask the people from Ghana and nIgeria our brothers. We were driven from Israel to create the islam state of Palestine. Read from the book called (FROM BABYLON TO TIMBUKTU)

  82. Yes I
    October 10, 2013

    Money for Our International Airport.

  83. hmmm
    October 10, 2013

    interesting…is Dominica in on this??

    • Justice and Truth
      October 10, 2013

      You should not ask this question since D/ca is part of the Caricom countries. Do you not know that?

      • hmmm
        October 11, 2013

        hmmmm…it says “14 Caribbean Countries’ hence my question. smh

      • trolol
        October 11, 2013

        Lol, you does burn Dominicans we boy. Not everyone is keen on reading and looking for details. :lol: :lol:

  84. what!
    October 10, 2013

    Before I die,I want my share of one million pounds with accrued interest

    • Justice and Truth
      October 10, 2013

      Keep waiting…> :lol: Hope you will be in Heaven prior to that, if you perform our Haavenly Father’s Will. :)

  85. Tarzan
    October 10, 2013

    Wil be an uphill battle but its worth trying.

  86. Bala Junior
    October 10, 2013

    From the tribe of BALA living in the U.S.A from Grand-Bay Dominica I think that’s a very proud move it’s time to make the wicked wans pay.

  87. take your time
    October 10, 2013

    Waiting to see how this unfolds… maybe my greatgrand children might benefit

  88. forreal
    October 10, 2013

    finally some real news,i pray that doctor honeychurch be vocal in raising this awareness,being that he is dominicas lead historian,dominica is a place that is very ignorant of their ancestral heritage,they say things like,they are not africans,africans do not like us,propaganda,or they are dominicans,yes you are dominican,with a double,african dominican,i hope this phase of history gives you all more acceptance,of who you all really are,and unify dominica,because we all stand to benefit from our ancesters blood sweat and tears,halleluyah.

    • Surething
      October 10, 2013

      Wii, I really think you’re missing the point.

      • forreal
        October 11, 2013

        hey please point out the point,so we all can be enlightened

    • love for all
      October 10, 2013

      very nice!

    • Lennox Honychurch
      October 10, 2013

      Thank you forreal. Since I have been mentioned by name I will reply as such. I have been co-opted onto the Dominica Committee for Reparations under the provisional chairmanship of Dr. Damian Dublin. I shall be dealing in more detail later in that forum but in immediate response and for the benefit of DNO readers I shall give a brief outline.

      Every CARICOM state is to prepare its own dossier on the issue. Remember, this is a court case. One cannot just spout emotion. There must be a documented paper trail with names, amounts and beneficiaries. The initial tactic of the lawyers is to concentrate on the British compensation granted to owners of slaves in 1834.

      The evidence here is well documented. In our Dominica National Archives on Kennedy Avenue there are all the papers listing the amounts paid to each owner as compensation for the “loss” of their “property”.

      In 1834 on the eve of the first phase of Emancipation, there were 14,175 slaves in Dominica and the slave owners of Dominica received £275,547. (If, as the article says, £20,000,000 in 1834 is £200 billion today, could some DNO mathematician work out what would be Dominica’s share today?) The compensation was a sweetener to the slave owners. It was a bribe to accept Emancipation.

      The beneficiaries were not only large plantation owners. There were free black market hucksters and small shopkeepers who owned one or two slaves to help them with their business. There were small-scale peasant farmers in villages such as Vieille Case, Petite Soufriere, Laronde La Plaine, Petite Savanne and Bagatelle who had a couple slaves to help them on their farms. They all received compensation.

      This was based on the age, health, strength of the slave. Note here that the slaves received nothing at all. As I stated in my speech at the unveiling of the Negre Mawon Emancipation statue in August, they started off as free people with nothing. If any reparations are granted, I would say that it should go on land and housing or on one major single national project from which all will benefit.

      It is early days yet. And it may be that this whole attempt will not be successful in court. To make reparation claims on a wider scale will be far more difficult because of the collection of evidence. This is in spite of a general knowledge of what went on: the Jewish financiers who forwarded money, the cowry shell traders of East Africa who supplied shells for the trade in West Africa, the glass bead merchants of Italy, the insurance companies such as Lloyds of London who insured slave ships, and indeed the African traders who became powerful elites on the backs of the enslaved: the Alafins of Oyo, the powerful kings of Ashanti and the chiefs of Ouida, today’s Dahomey.

      Critics of this endeavour will say that if you target one perpetrator you must target them all. Others will argue that British Anti-Slavery advocates actually ended the trade and slavery itself. Some, like a poster on this board, will say it is all ridiculous and why don’t the British charge the Italians for making the Anglo-Saxons slaves back in the days of the Roman Empire. The debate will rage on!

      • forreal
        October 12, 2013

        thanks doctor,just loggin in to say,that i have read your response,and i am very appreciat ive,sir my thought is,a lot people put out comments here on DNO and just does not make any sense,with people like you helping to put information here,is what we need,am not saying that our people are uneducated,but some just dont know,we need more experience people to log in on DNO,to post much needed information,thanks again.

      • Yes I
        October 14, 2013

        In 2011, the relative value of £275,000 0s 0d from 1834 ranges from £21,690,000.00 to £862,000,000.00.

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