Coalition of civil society groups says Paris should return harsh reparations imposed on Caribbean state two hundred years ago

The Caribbean island state became the first in the region to win its independence in 1804 after a revolt by enslaved people. But in a move that many Haitians blame for two centuries of turmoil, France later imposed harsh reparations for lost income and that debt was only fully repaid in 1947.

The group of about 20 non-governmental organisations currently in Geneva for a UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) are seeking a new independent commission to oversee the restitution of the debt, which they refer to as a ransom.

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The amount paid to France is disputed by historians although the New York Times estimated Haiti’s loss at $21bn. The proposal’s backers say the amount is much higher.

“It’s $21bn plus 200 years of interest that France has enjoyed, so we’re talking more like $150bn, $200bn or more,” said Jemima Pierre, professor of global race at the University of British Columbia.

Clesca said she hoped the recommendation and others would be part of the UN forum’s conclusions due on Friday. Last year, the PFPAD suggested that a tribunal should be formed to address reparations for slavery.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldMEnglish
      84·
      2 个月前

      That’s not an answer to how you do all of that without a government. You can’t just say “France has to do it” and walk away like that solves it all.

    • acargitz@lemmy.caEnglish
      11·
      2 个月前

      So what does “fixing” look like? Are you saying France should go in Haiti, and …start building infrastructure, creating and funding a civil service, create, support and uphold state institutions etc? Because, in that case, um, you just invented colonialism.