Dear Editor,
The heirs of a slave owning family is following in the footsteps of the heirs of another slave owning family in offering apology and making a contribution. The Gladstone family will be featured at an event hosted by UG in this significant bicentennial year of the 1823 uprising. Not so long ago, the Trevelyan family of which renowned former British broadcaster, Laura Trevelyan, traveled to the Caribbean island of Grenada and publicly apologised for ownership of slaves, while pledging a personal contribution. Ms Trevelyan has since quit her job at the BBC to actively campaign as a ‘full-time roving advocate’ for reparation justice for the Caribbean.
Small but significant steps by two families on which to build on. UG must be commended in its efforts in getting the Gladstone heirs to come and be a part of its ‘Legacies and the Future’ commemorative event. Reparative justice for the Caribbean is a long, hard, work in progress, but the fact that some families can recognize and accept their role in slavery was wrong, while seeking to make tangible amends means some justice is being served in small ways. They can do it, then participating governments, in what has been described as the greatest crime against humanity, must do it too.
Sincerely,
Shamshun Mohamed
