On Wednesday, 27 August, the CARICOM reparations movement took centre stage at CARIFESTA XV with a landmark event titled “Big Conversations | Righting Wrongs: CARICOM’s Call for Reparations, Justice and Healing.”
Held at the iconic Queen’s Park Esplanade, the gathering marked a pivotal moment in the Region’s ongoing pursuit of reparatory justice and historical reckoning and underscored CARICOM’s commitment to international solidarity and cultural resilience, while amplifying the voices of communities historically denied justice.
The forum brought together a distinguished panel of thought leaders, diplomats, and cultural advocates whose voices continue to shape the global reparations discourse:
- Ambassador David Comissiong, Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM
- Ambassador Dr June Soomer, Immediate Past Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
- Dr Hilary Brown, Programme Manager for Culture and Community Development, CARICOM Secretariat
- Professor Sonjah Stanley-Niaah, Director of the Centre for Reparation Research, The University of the West Indies
- Dave Guza, Zimbabwean Artist and Social Justice Activist
Together, these influential personalities explored the enduring legacies of empire and colonialism, and the urgent need for justice, equity, and healing across the Caribbean and African diaspora. The conversation.
CARIFESTA XV continues to serve as a dynamic platform for cultural expression, political dialogue, and regional unity. Thursday’s “Big Conversation” reaffirmed the power of collective memory and the transformative potential of reparatory justice.
Please listen to the critical takeaways from the conversation below.
