RESEARCH QUANTIFIES VALUE OF REPARATIONS

Barbados is being encouraged to approach reparations as a tool for national development rather than individual compensation, following new research into the economic legacy of slavery.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Accra Beach Hotel, Programme Advisor in the Office of Pan-African Affairs and Heritage, Rodney Grant said the study should serve as a framework to address enduring social and economic challenges rooted in the slave trade.

The research, conducted by Public Interest Experts Incorporated (PIEI) and led by Dr. Coleman Bazelon on behalf of the Government of Barbados, quantifies the value of reparations owed for unpaid labour during slavery from 1627 to 1834.

Grant emphasised that the goal is not simply financial payouts. “It makes no sense to talk about getting a million dollars and splitting it across the country… It is about the buildup of our institutional framework.”

He said slavery’s legacy can be linked to present-day issues, including poor health outcomes, environmental damage, and economic inequality. “So there’s so many things… built into the process of slavery that impact on us now.”

Acknowledging public discomfort around the topic, Grant urged open dialogue. “We can’t hide from this subject anymore. We must begin to package it in a way that the whole country benefits.”

He pointed to the Bridgetown Initiative, led by Prime Minister Mia Mottley, as an example of structuring complex issues into actionable frameworks.

Further details of the study will be outlined during the launch of the Season of Emancipation on Wednesday