VANTAGE | WHY IT'S TIME FOR COLONISERS LIKE UK TO PAY UP TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS THEY LOOTED
Making amends for mistakes is a universal practice, often initiated with a sincere apology. However, when historical mistakes involve the loss of millions of lives, the impoverishment of entire populations and the exploitation of entire continents, a mere apology seems insufficient. This is the sentiment resonating from former colonies towards European countries, who are now being urged not just to apologise but to pay reparations for the enduring impact of colonisation. Leading this charge is Barbados, whose Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, has presented a bold demand for reparations amounting to $4.9 trillion from European nations.
The call for reparations is deeply rooted in the historical atrocities committed during the era of slavery. In the case of Barbados, approximately 4,50,000 enslaved individuals were trafficked to the island, with only 3,75,000 surviving. The harsh conditions of plantation life and the perilous journey to the island claimed the lives of tens of thousands. With emancipation in 1838, only 83,000 survivors and their descendants remained. The demand for reparations seeks to address the enduring trauma and generational impact of these historical injustices.
Calculating the debt
The proposed figure of $4.9 trillion is not arbitrary. It stems from a comprehensive report by the Brattle Group, a US-based consulting company specialising in intricate calculations. The report suggests that the UK alone owes $24 trillion to 14 countries including Barbados. Other European nations are also implicated, with Spain owing $17 trillion, France $9 trillion and the Netherlands $4.8 trillion.
While these figures may seem staggering, Prime Minister Mottley emphasises that the wealth accumulated by European powers was amassed over decades and centuries. Taking this historical context into account, the requested reparations are seen as a realistic attempt to rectify the enduring consequences of colonial exploitation.
The issue of colonial reparations extends beyond Barbados, resonating in other former colonies like India. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar’s statements claim that Britain looted $45 trillion from India, illustrating the widespread impact of colonialism on economic, cultural and psychological levels.
International response
Barbados, along with several African and Caribbean nations, is actively pursuing reparations through joint initiatives. In July, a summit on reparations was hosted leading to the creation of a joint fund involving 75 countries. However, the reluctance of former colonial powers to acknowledge and rectify their past actions remains a significant hurdle.
Despite acknowledgments of the negative impact of slavery, European nations, including the UK, have yet to issue formal apologies or commit to reparations. The recent case of King Charles, who failed to apologise for the atrocities of the past, exemplifies the challenge in reconciling historical wrongs.
In response to the lack of acknowledgment and action from former colonial powers, some former colonies are taking matters into their own hands. Barbados, in 2021, severed ties with the monarchy and declared itself a republic. Similar movements are underway in other nations, signifying a generational demand for change and justice.
The call for reparations from former colonies represents a crucial step towards addressing historical injustices and rectifying the enduring impact of colonialism. The reluctance of former colonial powers to apologise and pay reparations underscores the need for a global reckoning with the past. As nations like Barbados forge their own path towards sovereignty and justice, the international community watches closely, hoping for a future where accountability and reparations become a reality.
Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.
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