BY LASHAWNA GRIFFITH

Barbados has been at the forefront of the reparations debate for the past two decades.

The island which is a signatory to the Caricom Reparations Committee (CRC) Ten-Point Plan is continuing its fight to have the Caribbean repaid for the over 400 years of slavery.

In an interview with the media, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Culture and the National Development Commission John King, said now was the opportune time to speak about reparations.

“When you stop and think about the labour and the blood sweat and tears that have been put in by our ancestors, with the only reward being death. It is why we need everyone to take this matter very seriously.

I am hoping that we can get serious about it, and have it done so people in the diaspora, African continent and living in other parts of the world can begin to feel that they are actually seen as a part of that movement family.”

King said that it is important that reparations take place to give the former colonized countries some of what they have lost over the years.

“Colonialism in my mind is just another form of slavery and it is important that reparations take place to give us back some of the years that we would have lost. I mean you have lost 400 years of being treated as a chattel and having no value.

Reparations are not just in terms of money; it is rebuilding of educational programs, and yes! you would need money for some of those things but there is also the repertory psychological damage that needs to be addressed and that for me is the area that we need a lot of assistance in. Being able to have the technical assistance to do that work. To have the conversation on reparations now is so exciting because I am very much encouraged by the energy our young people are bringing to this very important issue.”

Barbados Ambassador to Caricom and Deputy Chair of the National Task Force on Reparations in Barbados, David Comissiong also echoed King’s sentiments stating that the former colonizers had two opportunities to repay Barbados the reparations that were due: 1834 and 1966, which they have ignored.

“The first occasion that Blacks living in Barbados should have been paid reparations was in 1834 when slavery was abolished. The White Barbadian planters who ‘owned’ our ancestors were compensated by the then British Government for their ‘loss of property in the form of human beings.

When Black people achieved their independence that was another opportunity.

In the post-emancipation era when slavery was just abolished, Black people had very little power and autonomy as they did not even have the right to vote. In 2021 Black people do have the power to vote, they do have autonomy. There must be a message sent out to the world and ourselves that our fore-parents are sacred and valuable beings deserving of justice and respect.”

Programme Advisor Reparations and Economic Enfranchisement in the Ministry of Culture Rodney Grant said that he agrees with the statements made by King and Comissiong. He believes that reparations are vital as our former colonizers underdeveloped the Caribbean by taking our development from us.

“We are underdeveloped because they took the development from us.

Imagine your ancestors had no recourse, nothing or no one to turn to, and they had to work in the boiling sun and rain for six to seven days a week. All of the wealth that they would have created went to another country to build that country’s institutions. Imagine that in 1834-1838, when this process was over, they left these plantations without even shoes on their feet. Meanwhile, the very people who enslaved them got recompense and rewarded for freeing persons that they enslaved. Imagine that!”

The social media campaign, which is being organized by the Barbados National Task Force on Reparations, is seeking to sensitize and educate Barbadians on reparations and why it will take all of society advocating for reparations to make it happen.

Members of the public are invited to join and follow the movement on social media by following @mytridentisbroken on Instagram, or Barbados National Task Force on Reparations on Facebook.

BY LA SHAWNA GRIFFITH

Twenty-year-old Ranako Bailey has been chosen to represent Barbados as a part of the YOUNGA Youth Delegation 2021 under the theme Re-imagine a better future.

The former student of Queen’s College and St Michael’s School will be representing the island this month where he will contribute to policy dialogues as well as create viable solutions with decision-makers to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Bailey who is on the verge of completing his degree in International Relations with Economics at The University of The West Indies Cave Hill Campus was selected to represent Caribbean Male Action Network at the YOUNGA Forum, which has been organized by Bridging The Gap Ventures.

He said that being a part of YOUNGA Youth Delegation allows him to address matters that members of the youth face constantly.

“Being a part of YOUNGA allows me to connect, learn from experts and take united action with other youth delegates to address matters to which we as youth must not only have a voice, but act on issues like- equality, climate change, the importance of mental health and the detachment from patriarchy.”

YOUNGA was created by His Excellency Antònio Guterres (the United Nations Secretary-General) who called on all member states to host the largest global conference on the commemoration of the United Nation’s 75^th anniversary.

This year YOUNGA will connect 2,030 Youth Delegates from across 130 countries with top-level decision-makers and influencers to co-create solutions to global challenges related to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year, partners include The Hult Prize Foundation; Kiss the Ground, IBMZ, AIESEC, Girl Up, The One Campaign, WWF International, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Kode with Klossy, The Resolution Project, the Born This Way Foundation, One Young World, Project Everyone, the UN Foundation and World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).

As a part of this international initiative, Bailey will receive access to a free, bespoke four-week leadership and advocacy training program along with curated career advancement and networking opportunities, including virtual Innovation Masterminds, Policy Working Groups, as well as interactive VR experiences. Programming focuses on five thematic tracks that align with youth priorities and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Climate Action and Sustainable Living, Equality and Inclusion, Future of Education and Work, Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Peace and Justice.

YOUNGA Founder and Global Chair Kelly Lovell said that their goal is to inspire creativity and innovative thinking for young people to explore new solutions to pressing global challenges.

“Our goal is to inspire creativity and innovative thinking, for young people to explore new solutions to pressing global challenges and bring renewed hope. In the eyes of youth, we are living in a time of crisis for people and the planet. We are moving in the opposite direction from progress as economic and social disparities continue to widen.”

Part of this year’s program included a special youth activation, which was held on September 9^th, 2021, along with a charity fundraiser live-streamed from Disney World and presented by the president of Walt Disney World Resorts, Jeff Vahle.

This week Bailey, who is the Social Sciences Representative for the University Of The West Indies Cave Hill Guild, and Youth Network Research Director for the HEY Campaign will be undertaking mastermind sessions focused on activism:

• Youth: A Driving Force for Innovative Lifestyles Under 1.5 Degrees
• Impact Investing: A Cross-cutting Look
• Nature and Spirit: Sustainability Through an Indigenous Lens
• Self-Care Solutions for Youth: A Hackathon, The Future of Ocean Innovation Recovering from COVID-19 and Breathwork: The Power of Self-Healing

He is passionate about encouraging young men to pursue their passions and he is hopeful that by being a part of YOUNGA that he inspires other young men to go after their dreams.

BY LA SHAWNA GRIFFITH

“Here I am a good guy and treat women well- why is it that I cannot find someone who would go hard for me?”

Ian Harewood is a Barbadian author who writes under the pseudonym Mule Mind. He is the author of the book “Some Look For Masters and Some Look For Saviors.”

The book, which was released on August 8^th, 2021, has already, received a five-star review on Amazon. It is a collection of his dating experiences over the years after multiple failed relationships in which he was the Savior. Subsequently, he began to realize that some women preferred men who were Masters.

“I went through a couple of failed relationships, and I was always the good guy in the relationships. I was raised and taught that I should always be the good guy in the relationship and still had bad breakups. I was trying to figure out what I had done wrong in the relationships, and it reminded me of the saying that good guys finish last.

Over the years by observing other people and their relationships and watching how good women deal with guys who are bad guys and treat them badly, despite that treatment these women still love those men. I was like, here I am a good guy and treat women well. Why is it that I cannot find someone who would go hard for me?”

Harewood said that in doing his self-introspection he decided that his research should be compiled in a book to educate his male peers who were facing similar situations in their relationship journeys.

“I thought that I should share the information with guys who are like my former self. I have not gotten any negative response from people. Even my editor who read the book said he could identify a lot of the traits in the book as he identified himself as a Saviour back in his previous relationships. Now that he is a different individual, he considers himself more of a Master.”

The first-time author said that the concept of the book was two-fold in that the Saviour is seen as the Hero while the Master is seen as the Anti-Hero. However, during the book, persons would realize that the Saviour is the one who suffers the most in their relationships.

“The concept of the book is the Master and the Savior. The Hero and Anti-hero. When you read the book, some people may identify the Master as being the bad guy and the Saviour as being the good guy, but many times in the book the Saviour is the one that ends up losing because he is the one that is putting in 90% in the relationship and the other person is putting in 10%. When the relationship is over, he is the one that loses the most in the relationship. Basically, in the book I say that Saviour gets beaten to a pulp for his good deeds.”

 Harewood said that he wants everyone who reads his book, especially men, to understand that in the age of women being independent, that it is ok for a woman to take care of them.

“In this time, women are more independent so they can’t expect that a man is supposed to do all the thinking for her and save her from the brutal crazy world. I feel that a woman can save herself. Sometimes, men can allow women to take the lead and provide for both of them,” he said.

Harewood invites people to read his book by heading over to Amazon and typing “Mule Mind- Some Look for Masters and Some Look For Saviours,” in the search bar.