BARBADOS (Commonwealth union)_Barbados’ government is considering making a wealthy Conservative MP the first person to pay reparations for his ancestor’s important role in enslavement.
According to the Observer, South Dorset MP Richard Drax recently travelled to the Caribbean island for a secret meeting with the country’s Prime Minister, Mia Mottley. A report has been presented to PM Mottley’s cabinet outlining the next steps, which include legal action if a deal with Drax cannot be reached. Barbados became a republic a year ago after Queen Elizabeth II was deposed as head of state.
The Drax family established the plantation system in the 17th century and was instrumental in the development of sugar and slavery throughout the Caribbean and the United States.
“If the issue cannot be handled, we will take legal action in international courts,” said MP Trevor Prescod, chairman of the Barbados National Task Force on Reparations, which is part of the Caricom Reparations Commission. “The action against the Drax family would be for hundreds of years of servitude, thus any damages would almost certainly much exceed the value of the land.”
Countries in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) have been advocating for former colonial powers and institutions that benefitted from slavery to pay reparations. This is the first instance of a family is being singled out. Among the options being examined are the conversion of the 17th-century Drax Hall into an Afro-centric museum and the use of a substantial area of the plantation for social housing for low-income Bajan families. It is also suggested that Richard Drax pay for some of the work.
The Barbados ambassador to Caricom and vice chairman of the task team, David Comissiong, stated that, in addition to Drax, other families whose forebears benefited from slavery are being scrutinised, including the British royal family: “It is now a matter before the government of Barbados. It is being addressed at the highest level.”
