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Departments, Specialised Units and Centres Highlights

CENTRE FOR REPARATION RESEARCH

As the Centre for Reparation Research goes into its 6th year, its commitment to research, knowledge creation, documentation and the dissemination of information to what has become a Global Reparatory Justice Movement could never be stronger. The CRR, therefore, supports and contributes to the implementation of CARICOM’s Reparatory Justice Programme, which broadly seeks to foster public awareness around the lasting and adverse consequences of European invasion of Indigenous Peoples’ lands, African enslavement and colonialism in the Caribbean. The CRR also supports long-standing reparatory justice advocates, including Indigenous Peoples, Rastafari, civil society groups and individual academics, politicians and national reparation committees/councils/advisory groups locally, regionally and internationally. The Centre has embraced an additional responsibility – working with DISCUS at The UWI (for example, The P.J. Patterson Institute for Africa-Caribbean Advocacy, and the Institute of Caribbean Studies) and other educational institutions, including Caribbean high schools, to promote education on colonial legacies and the need for justice and repair.

The CRR embodies the goals of The UWI’s Triple “A” Strategy 2017–2022: to advance learning, create knowledge and foster innovation for the positive transformation of the Caribbean through access, alignment and agility.

THE CENTRE AND THE UWI’S TRIPLE “A” STRATEGY 2017–2022

Access

The CRR reflects Access by promoting research on a) the legacies of colonialism, native genocide, enslavement and Indian indentureship in the Caribbean; and b) how to bring justice and positive transformation to these legacies. The CRR continues to partner with the CARICOM Reparations Commission and other national reparation committees and institutions (e.g., the University of Glasgow on the joint masters in reparatory justice) to fulfil this mandate.

Alignment

The establishment of the CRR has already resulted in academic and industry partnerships and collaborations with corporations and institutions – nationally, regionally and internationally. The CRR continues to collaborate with advocates such as the National African-American Reparation Coalition, USA; Global African Congress, UK; and National Committees of the CARICOM countries.

This also fulfils another main goal of the CRR which is the promotion of advocacy for reparatory justice by the building of capacity for a) consultancy to CARICOM, Caribbean states, the UN and other relevant institutions; b) raising public awareness; and c) supporting activism for reparatory and decolonial justice from grassroots to governments.

Agility

Agility refers to the desire to expand the physical presence of The UWI on all continents, to restore financial health to The UWI, to generate economies of scale and scope for The UWI, while fostering a creative, caring, accountable motivated and professional team. The CRR continues to promote its work through two international committees: an Advisory Committee and a Network of Scholars, which are comprised of members from academia and civil society.

After the Triple “A”: The Revenue Revolution

The UWI has implemented an operational plan dedicated exclusively to addressing its financial sustainability, which was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since face-to-face operations resumed in January, 2022, the CRR has bolstered its commitment to diversify its income stream, which has been a part of its mandate since 2017. The CRR will continue to seek institutional partnerships and opportunities for grant funding. The CRR is in the process of seeking competent grants and funding personnel who will be paid on commission from grants and independent funding received, as staff streamlining during the COVID-19 pandemic saw the departure of the project officer.

Staffing 2021–2022

The CRR is directed by Professor Emerita of History and Gender Studies, Verene A. Shepherd, CD. The current administrative assistant is Mr. Omar Ryan and the junior research fellow, Ms. Mia McMorris. Previous staff members over the period, whom we thank for their services, were Ms. Nattecia Bohardsingh, Dr. Sheray Warmington and Mr. Mario Galbert.

Visiting Students

The visiting students during the period covered by this report were Shodona Kettle, PhD student, University College, London; and Wayne Weaver, PhD student, the University of Cambridge.

Departmental Activities (Conferences/Seminars) with Staff Participation

The following is a sample of the activities (some virtual) in which the Director and staff were involved since the last report.

  • August 17, 2021: “Afrikan Unity – the Spinal Chord.” Garvey Symposium organised by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport (Jamaica). (Director)
  • August 23, 2021: “The Caribbean and the Reparation Movement.” Presented to Casa de las Americas and the Cuban National Commission for UNESCO on the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. (Director)
  • September 20, 2021: Lecture on Reparation by the Director, Wesleyan College, USA. (Director)
  • September 22, 2021: High-Level Meeting at the United Nations, New York, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (Director)
  • September 24, 2021: Co-organizer with the P.J. Patterson Centre (PJPC) and the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport (MCGES) of the Webinar “Durban + 20: Reparation, Recognition, Justice, Development”
  • October 1, 2021: "Reparation and Diversity: Building an Inclusive Movement in the Caribbean." Keynote lecture at the “Confronting the Past, Re-imagining the Future” Conference, Jesus College. (Director) October 14, 2021: Black History: What is that? – A View from the Caribbean.” Presented to the African and Caribbean Support Organisation (ASCONI), Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Director)
  • February 16, 2022: Assisted in organizing and participated in the Vice-Chancellor’s Forum on exonerating Marcus Garvey along with the PJ Patterson Institute for Africa Caribbean Advocacy and the Office of Global Affairs.
  • March 21, 2022: The Director was invited by OXFAM to make an internal presentation to its staff for its Aid and Reparations Webinar.
  • March 21, 2022: The Director participated in a webinar, hosted by UNESCO-IESALC, University of Bath (UK), Universidad de las Regiones Autónomas de la Costa Caribe Nicaragüense (URACCAN), and Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero (Argentina).
  • March 21, 2022: The Junior Research Fellow presented at the EU Anti-Racism Summit on the theme, Examination of the past: Restitution and Decolonisation of Public Spaces.
  • March 23, 2022: The Director presented at a conference entitled, Racial Discrimination: The Campaign for Reparatory Justice for People of African Descent, organized by the University of Buenos Aires.
  • March 25, 2022: The Director participated in the OAS Council’s session to mark The International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, under the theme: Stories of Courage in the Americas: Resistance to Slavery and Unity Against Racism.
  • March 22–24, 2022: visit of British Royals, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, created a renewed platform in Jamaica, and indeed the wider Caribbean, for the reparation conversation. The CRR released an official statement to the press calling for a full and clear apology from the British Royals and Government. The CRR also took part in several local and international media interviews and panels in the wake of the visit.
  • June 27, 2022: The CRR hosted a Consultative Meeting with the South African High Commission at the Regional Headquarters, aimed at strengthening relations with the UWI and The Republic of South Africa.
  • October 12, 2022: The CRR established a new partnership with the Centre for Study of Africa and African Diaspora (CSAAD), New York University. We collaborated on a webinar recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the publication of Walter Rodney’s, How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. This event was also organised in collaboration with The Dag Hammarskjold Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, The Copperbelt University and the P J Patterson Institute for Africa Caribbean Advocacy.
  • May 12–13, 2022: The CRR partnered with the Vice-Chancellor’s Office and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to stage the Caribbean Africa Dialogues: Shaping the Present for the Future We Want. This international summit, which took place in Barbados, was aimed at bringing together intellectuals and advocates across the globe in an effort to re-energize Africa-Diaspora relations.

Projects

The Centre is currently preparing to undertake a one-year Caribbean-wide research project examining the many forms of abuse and torture meted out against the African enslaved by their colonizers and enslavers. The CRR is currently awaiting final funding approval; however, preliminary background research into the project has begun. The CRR is also doing research for other companies and reparation committees in the region. Other Activities: Media & Publications

Sankofa

After a brief hiatus, and with the support of the CRR’s social media manager, the bi-weekly newsletter, Sankofa, was re-launched on March 10, 2022. The Centre has also been able to revamp its social media profile with more thematic posts marking significant occasions. For example, in February 2022 the CRR featured several freedom fighters during Black History Month; and for March our social media featured female pioneers in recognition of Women’s History Month.

Publications

  • Verene Shepherd and Gabrielle Hemmings, editors, Introduction to Reparation for Secondary Schools (The Press, UWI and The CARICOM Reparations Commission, 2021)
  • Verene Shepherd, Ahmed Reid, Gabrielle Hemmings and John Shorter, Appleton Estate: From The Dickinson Family to the Campari Group – A Short History (Ian Randle Publishers, 2022) A coffee table version of the book has also been published.
  • “Reparation Conversations”, a bi-weekly publication in the Jamaica Sunday Gleaner
  • Article on reparation in “Jambar,” (Jamaica Bar Association publication)

The CRR remains committed to fulfilling The UWI’s Triple ‘A’ Strategy and to contribute to its “Revenue Revolution”, as well as to carrying out the mandate of CARICOM to advance the movement for reparatory justice in the Caribbean.

Gallery

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