Coalition of civil society groups says Paris should return harsh reparations imposed on Caribbean state two hundred years ago

The Caribbean island state became the first in the region to win its independence in 1804 after a revolt by enslaved people. But in a move that many Haitians blame for two centuries of turmoil, France later imposed harsh reparations for lost income and that debt was only fully repaid in 1947.

The group of about 20 non-governmental organisations currently in Geneva for a UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) are seeking a new independent commission to oversee the restitution of the debt, which they refer to as a ransom.

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The amount paid to France is disputed by historians although the New York Times estimated Haiti’s loss at $21bn. The proposal’s backers say the amount is much higher.

“It’s $21bn plus 200 years of interest that France has enjoyed, so we’re talking more like $150bn, $200bn or more,” said Jemima Pierre, professor of global race at the University of British Columbia.

Clesca said she hoped the recommendation and others would be part of the UN forum’s conclusions due on Friday. Last year, the PFPAD suggested that a tribunal should be formed to address reparations for slavery.

  • Flying SquidMEnglish
    73•3 months ago

    I am certain that Europe and America will never give any legitimate slavery reparations in my lifetime.

    That said, Haiti is way too unstable right now to give them reparations. They need a stable government first. Otherwise you’re basically just giving it to gangs.

    • @VonCesaw@lemmy.worldEnglish
      23•3 months ago

      um,sweaty,the us DID pay reparations

      how were those slaveowners gonna recoup the losses of their property without reparations

    • @UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      13•3 months ago

      That said, Haiti is way too unstable right now to give them reparations

      There’s a question of who to give it to. But it is undeniable that the country with one of the lowest standards of living on earth, squarely in the path of major hurricanes, and prone to massive earthquakes, needs resources to rebuild with the kind of stable and resilient infrastructure that can endure these shocks.

          • Flying SquidMEnglish
            10•3 months ago

            Who is going to build all of those things? Who is going to organize them? Who is going to get the supplies? Who is going to ensure nothing gets stolen and no one gets hurt? Who is going to take care of any medical issues that turn up due to things like accidents?

            How do you do all of that without a government?

              • Flying SquidMEnglish
                4•3 months ago

                That’s not an answer to how you do all of that without a government. You can’t just say “France has to do it” and walk away like that solves it all.

              • acargitzEnglish
                0•3 months ago

                So what does “fixing” look like? Are you saying France should go in Haiti, and …start building infrastructure, creating and funding a civil service, create, support and uphold state institutions etc? Because, in that case, um, you just invented colonialism.

                • @deegeese@sopuli.xyzEnglish
                  2•3 months ago

                  Like we do for other failed states, there is a UN-led reconstruction program, in this case funded by France.

  • @Twoafros@lemmy.worldEnglish
    34•3 months ago

    Makes sense! I think France, and all countries that had slave colonies, should pay back the equivalent of the profits they made from slavery with interest. It won’t take away the atrocities that were committed but it is part of justice.

    • @NateNate60@lemmy.worldEnglish
      7•3 months ago

      France doesn’t have “trillions”. There is nothing that can be done to force France to pay, so demanding too large of a sum, even if justified, is a good way to get them to say “fuck that” and you get nothing.

  • shoulderoforion
    -19•3 months ago

    Haiti? Amongst almost all nations on earth, Haiti has repeatedly proven over and over again that they cannot govern themselves, like, to any degree whatsoever. The corruption is so pervasive, even if an honest politician is elected to any position of authority, corrupt police and military simply look the other way when gangs take aim and assassinate them. This is clear to anyone that’s paid any attention to Haiti at all over the last 75 years. The worst thing anyone can possibly do is give Haiti hundreds of Billions of dollars, omg. I mean at some point after say a decade of stability, that would make sense, but not before Haitians can show they won’t once again devolve into chaos, riot, starvation, disease, and death. But not anytime soon.

    • @deegeese@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      31•3 months ago

      Haiti is a basket case precisely because France demanded their former slaves pay France for not being slaves any more.

      France has a 200 year old moral debt for creating a failed state as punishment for their ancestors rejecting slavery.

      Give the Haitians French citizenship and raise Haiti to the same standard as their neighboring possession of Saint-Martin.