Photo by: The Guardian
The Barbados government are reportedly putting plans in place to to receive the first set of reparations payment from a wealthy British Member of Parliament, who’s a direct descendant of enslavers.
Attorney at Law and reparations campaigner, Bert Samuels says he’s proud of Prime Minister Mia Mottley for pursuing the matter.
British Conservative MP, Richard Drax, is a descendant of the Drax family, who practiced slavery across the Caribbean and the U.S.
His ancestor, Sir James Drax was one of the first people involved in the colonization of Barbados in the 17th century.
He owned two slave ships and sugar plantations in Barbados and Jamaica. Drax Hall in St. Ann was once owned by the same family.
Richard Drax recently met with Barbadian Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, who is threatening to take legal action in the event that Drax fails to reach an agreement.
This is the first time a family involved in slavery has been targeted for reparations by a CARICOM country.
Mr. Samuels says Jamaicans must follow the lead and continue to push for reparations. He says it re-ignites the fight for justice for Caribbean people
Bert Samuels.
Barbados removed the British Monarch as their head of state and became a republic last November.
Barbados’ plans include transforming Drax Hall into a museum dedicated to African history and to use the Drax plantation to build housing for low income families.
