Chairman of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles says the commission recognizes Monday’s apology by The Netherlands for its past actions to enslaved people, as historic.
He noted Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s acknowledgment that the transatlantic slave trade and chattel slavery in general were crimes against humanity.
Professor Beckles said such crime should be repaired with specific remedies.
It has been almost a decade since CARICOM governments established the reparation commission to move the reparations movement forward.
Professor Beckles added that the Dutch statement brings the reparations movement closer to closure.
Sir Hilary said the Dutch statement must be challenged.
Professor Beckles said the Dutch state was Europe’s pioneer of the global slavery enterprise, adding that the Dutch community continues to this day to be an imperial nation holding a significant part of the Caribbean community in a state of colonial bondage.
The CARICOM Reparations Commission is anticipating dialogue with the Dutch authorities.