Sir Hilary goes to Congress

US Congresswoman, Democratic Representative of Texas, Sheila Jackson Lee, extended an invitation to Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, and Chairman of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, to participate in the decades- long anticipated, historic sitting of Congress on Reparations. On Wednesday, June 19, 2019 the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties convened hearing on H.R. 40, the path to Restorative Justice.

Keenan Keller, Senior Counsel to the House Judiciary Subcommittee, informed Sir Hilary, “Given your long standing interest in H.R. 40 as a model for legislative action that has positively impacted the Reparations movement in the Caribbean, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, lead sponsor on the bill, would be honoured by your attendance at this momentous hearing.”

Sir Hilary's participation in the Congress followed his contribution at the British House of Commons in 2014, and his delivery of the keynote address at the sitting of the United Nations General Assembly to launch the International Decade (2015 to 2025) for People of African Descent.