Robertson S. Henry. Sports and Cultural Contributor
St Vincent and the Grenadines news. MONDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2013; KINGSTOWN, ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES – Member of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Reparations Committee Joseph Delves, this morning told the Regional Conference on Reparations in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, “the biggest problem facing reparations in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, is the divide between the two political parties.”
An attorney by profession, Delves stated that the fight for reparations had become ensnared in party politics, “perhaps because the most recent push for reparations has come from the Prime Minister.”
He went on to point out “generally persons from the New Democratic Party are against it or raise serious doubts about various aspects of it. For example, they argue that while they understand the historical issues surrounding reparations, that now is not the right time, and that the priority of all Vincentians should be alleviation of the present economic circumstances, (fixing roads, improving health care, etc). Some object to the leading role being played by the Prime Minister.”
According to Delves, “the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Reparations Committee is of the firm view that the time has come for reparations to be placed on the international agenda given that our present state and condition is directly related to the atrocities we suffered.”
Delves said that it’s the position of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Reparations Committee that reparations will not succeed if the state is not principally involved. “It therefore matters not if the state is leading other interested persons and bodies, or is pushing them from behind, as long as it is a united effort which embraces as many of the divergent interests as possible.”
Professor Verene Shepard of Jamaica (r) along with PM Gonsalves (c) and Hon Stephen Lashley of Barbados. Photo courtesy Robertson Henry
Delves reminded the gathering that the Jews would not have received billions of dollars in reparations from Germany, had it not been for the aggressive agitation of Israel and the U.S.A., which assigned a special envoy from the State Department just for that purpose.
He called on all Vincentians “who say they are for reparations to focus on and support the message, and not the messenger.”
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