Caribbean News
Barbados has tallied the cost of Slavery, Mottley says it’s in the TRILLION$
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#Barbados, December 10, 2023 – Around $4.9 trillion, that’s what Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados says her country is owed for the atrocities of slavery committed there.
“We are not begging for an apology, but human moral behavior demands it, is it, and an apology doesn’t work if it’s insincere, and it can only be sincere if there is a genuine desire to seek redemption,” she said during a lecture at the London School of Economics and Political Science of which she is an alumnus.
Citing the recent study from the Brattle Group on behalf of the University of the West Indies which quantified reparations for Trans-Atlantic slavery what was owed to Caribbean countries by Europeans she explained the basis of the cash,
“In our own case, Barbados, because we were the home of modern racism, that’s where it was first institutionalized. On a small rock in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, the Atlantic ocean 166 mi.² more or less the size of the Gaza Strip, $4.9 trillion.”
She warned not to take the numbers out of context, but to balance them alongside the years of unpaid labor stolen from Africans.
“The parliament, that I know about the honor and privilege to lead–– the [same] parliament that passed the first ever qualification of slavery in the western world— we talked today about atrocities, and we must, but we talk as if it is new to the western world without recognizing that the western world as we know, it was built on atrocities we do not have the luxury of changing history, but we do have the solemn obligation to right our wrongs.”
Mottley maintained that for too long the realities of slavery have been spoken about in hushed tones.
“For too long the conspiracy of silence has diminished the horror of what our people faced for more than four centuries— there is no institution in the western world that has endured more pain and tribulation than those who were either the subject of genocide or whose bodies were enslaved.”
It’s not just money that the Prime Minister wants to recover, referencing the destruction of the family unit that happened under slavery she said, “It is not only economic poverty, but poverty of mind, poverty of spirit, and the other aspects of poverty that downpress and suppress people. We must work with each other— to create a movement that sees people, feels people, that hears people, that understands that when all others and other things are gone, the family ought to be that nurturing unit— that speaks to them about the fact that there is nothing nothing to be gained from retribution but what is required is never to forget, but always to aspire.”
She also criticized British Media for its role in ignoring the conversation of reparations and lauded King Charles III for his courage to speak on the reparations conversation.
She maintained that until the world could have mature conversations about the linkages between slavery, racism and the treatment of Black people the process of redemption would not be complete.
“The unconscious bias which the George Floyd, and Black Lives Matter movement, pointed us to is very much appreciated and everything that we do— the institutionalization of racism became a standard for the establishment of modern civilized America and the Caribbean.”
In this vein, Mottley called for a strategic moral leadership across the globe.
“Principles only mean something when they’re not convenient to standby because none of us are made perfect and there will be times when we will fall short but it’s the ability to acknowledge that to seek redemption that will be fine us as a civilization and our ability to move on rather than languishing in the shadows of a disgraceful history,” she said.
Caribbean News
Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts celebrate a night of wins, and take home a total of 16 titles at the 32nd Annual World Travel Awards
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (October 6th, 2025) – CaribCon, the Caribbean conference celebrating culture, innovation, and creativity, will welcome some of the region’s most influential voices to its inaugural edition in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The event, set to be a dynamic gathering of thought leaders and cultural icons, will feature impactful panel discussions, inspiring and intimate fireside chats and a flow of knowledge from some of the Caribbean’s brightest and best in the creative sector.
Elizabeth “Lady” Montano
Jamaica’s own Dr. Terri-Karelle Johnson, celebrated communications specialist, media personality, and global keynote speaker, will headline CaribCon as the official keynote speaker. Known for her ability to connect authentically and inspire audiences worldwide, Dr. Reid will share her insights on Caribbean identity, storytelling, and the power of representation in shaping global narratives. Another highlight of CaribCon will be the presence of Elizabeth “Lady” Montano, mother and former manager of soca superstar Machel Montano. Lady will launch her award-winning book, King of Soca, in which she is positioned as the ultimate insider, chronicling the evolution of one of the Caribbean’s most iconic entertainers. She will also share her invaluable experiences on nurturing talent, building a brand, and sustaining longevity in the competitive music industry in an intimate fireside chat. Adding further star power to the event is Simon Baptiste, CEO of Question Mark Entertainment, co-founder of ODOS, a global collective network spanning over 1000 professionals in 35 countries, film director, talent manager and creative strategist. Baptiste will bring his expertise to conversations on shaping the region’s creative sector and talent.
Simon Baptiste
“CaribCon is where the Caribbean’s voices, ideas, and creativity converge,” says Omega Simmons, founder of CaribCon and CEO of SOS Media. “Having leaders like Terri Karelle, Lady Montano, and Simon Baptiste share their stories and expertise truly embodies the spirit of this event. Their presence reinforces the power of Caribbean culture to inspire and influence on the world stage.” CaribCon will take place at the Shore Club in Providenciales, the Turks and Caicos Islands, from October 23rd to 26th. Attendees can look forward to networking opportunities, panel discussions, and meaningful dialogue to foster an ecosystem that develops the region’s creative sector and propels it onto the global stage.
Sponsors are:
Signature Experience Partners: Ministry of Tourism, Experience Turks and Caicos, and The Shore Club.
Other sponsors: PPID, Invest TCI, InterCaribbean Airways, Subtronic Sounds, Spotlight Communications.
Hotel partners: Ocean Club Resorts, Waterloo Hotel Management, The Somerset on Grace Bay and Ports of Call Resort.
For more information, tickets, and updates, visit www.caribcon.co or follow @caribconhq on all social media platforms.
For more information please email: contact@caribcon.co
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