Fonseca says Reparations Progress is Slow but Steady 

On Thursday, Belize celebrated the one hundred and eighty-sixth anniversary of emancipation. Paying tribute to the thousands of Africans who were kidnapped and brought to Belize where they were abused for over two hundred years. As a part of the freedom celebrations, Belizeans gathered to participate in the annual Eboe Town Festival in Belize City. This cultural festival was filled with music, food and communion, as the public gathered to celebrate their freedom. However, countries within the Caribbean impacted by slavery seek to remind the countries responsible for the Atlantic slave trade that their efforts to right their wrongs do not stop at freedom. For years, Caribbean nations have made calls for reparations. Today, Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs provided some insight into the work being done to acquire these reparations. 

 

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs 

“We had a very good report from two of the commissioners. So yeah, there’s a lot of work taking place very quietly. So yes, our commission is operating but, again, what was very clear from the meeting is that there needs to be a lot more engagement regionally. So all pf the commissions needs to be engaged and dialoguing with each other Not enough of tat is taking place. But there’s a lot of good work taking place on that issue and the representatives who are there felt that with the new labor government in the UK, they felt that there is an opportunity for a more fast-tracked approach on this issue. So there is some new hope and optimism that we can discuss this issue in more detail in the weeks and months ahead.”