Skip to Main Content

Heroes of Reparatory Justice and Nobel Laureates

 

Introduction 

Caribbean scholars have been adamant in their demands for reparations and have been champions for Caribbean pride and nationhood through their research, scholarship and advocacy.

The Mona Library’s exhibition “Celebrating Caribbean Excellence: Heroes of Reparatory Justice and Nobel Laureates” offers a unique perspective into West Indian life by showcasing the contributions of Caribbean luminaries and scholars of the University of the West Indies (UWI) by highlighting their invaluable contributions to Caribbean literature, climate action and the importance of reparations. This is manifested through their works which promoted Caribbean identity, the impact of climate change especially on Small Island Developing States and the need for capital injection and capacity building from countries that prospered from earnings derived from slave labour. 

The exhibition celebrates Heroes of Reparatory Justice individuals who have played pivotal roles in advocating for reparations from the exploitation of labour, resources and dignity from slavery and colonialism. The display features:

Nobel Prize recipients whose environmental advocacy, cultural activism, and literary Contributions have been instrumental in challenging dominant narratives and shaping the future of the West Indies are also highlighted in this exhibition.   The following are the Caribbean Nobel Laureates featured:

  • Sir Arthur Lewis
  • Professor Anthony Chen, Dr. Leonard Nurse and Professor John Agard (Inter-Governmental Panel for Climate Change)
  • Sir Derek Walcott

These West Indians heralded an era of advocacy for social and economic justice using literature and the arts, economics, environmental and climate change action and reparatory justice Platform. Through concise narratives, this exhibition offers insight into the writings, research and visions of these pioneers who championed national pride, regional integration and for remuneration in the Injustice of slavery and colonialism.

The University of the West Indies

Centre for Reparation Research

Image courtesy of the Jamaica Information Service (JIS)

The Centre for Reparation Research (CRR) at The University of the West Indies (UWI) is a leading academic institution dedicated to promoting research and advocacy for reparatory justice. Launched on October 10, 2017 at The UWI Mona Campus, the CRR it is the first and only center of its kind within an academic institution.

CRR Goals

The fundamental purpose of the CRR is to support the Caribbean Community's (CARICOM) Reparation Commission, the network of National Reparation Committees (NRC) and global Reparatory Justice Programme. Operating from the stance that past injustices continue to affect contemporary Caribbean societies, the CRR aims to foster public awareness and provide evidence-based arguments for reparations by studying the adverse and persistent consequences of European colonialism, including:

  • Transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans.
  • African chattel enslavement.
  • Genocide of Indigenous Peoples.
  • Post-slavery indentureship
  • Psychological weight of the African holocaust
  • Health and physical impact of enslavement

Reparation Conversations on UWItv Global

Key Activities

The CRR's activities span research, education, and advocacy, including:

International Reparation Debate:

The CRR held its inaugural International Reparation Debate in April 2025. Students from across the Caribbean and the United Kingdom engaged in critical discussions surrounding accountability for slavery and reparatory justice and stimulated research and advocacy among the secondary school students.

Research and Publications:

The center conducts interdisciplinary research on colonial legacies and solutions to combat these. This research informs and strengthens the case for reparations. It also collaborates with other bodies and institutions such as CARICOM and the University of Glasgow, in Scotland, on projects such as a joint M.A./M.Sc. in Reparatory Justice.

Public Education:

The CRR works with educational institutions, from UWI's own departments to Caribbean high schools, to promote a better understanding of colonial history and the need for justice. It also produces publications and media content, such as the "Reparation Conversations" series, to raise public consciousness.

Advocacy and Consultancy:

The CRR acts as a consultant to CARICOM, governments, and other relevant bodies.

Launch of the Report on Reparation for Transatlantic Chattel Slavery in the Americas and the Caribbean

https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/193220/images/Launch_Report_on_Reparation.jpg

Image source: UWItv

The report on the claims for Reparation for Transatlantic Chattel Slavery in the Americas and the Caribbean comes out of two major conferences held in May 2021 and February 2023. The key takeaway: transatlantic chattel slavery (TCS) was illegal under international law—even back when it was happening. That conclusion is based on:

  • African laws that opposed slavery.
  • Basic human rights principles, shown in treaties like the Treaty of Ghent (1814) and the Vienna Declaration (1815).

https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/193220/images/BRattle_Report_on_Reparation_June_8.jpg

View full Brattle Report on Reparations for the Transatlantic Chattel Slavery in the Americas and the Caribbean here.

The Harm Done

The report breaks down the stages of slavery and the horrors involved:

  • Capture in Africa – People were taken violently, often through raids and kidnappings.
  • March to Slave Trading Posts/Holding cells – Harsh journeys, physical abuse, and sexual violence.
  • Middle Passage – Cramped ships, disease, death, and total dehumanization.
  • Sale & Forced Labor in the Americas – Enslaved people worked without pay, faced torture, and had short life spans.
  • Organized Trade – European countries built systems around slavery and made huge profits from it.

What is the Cost for Reparations

The Brattle Group, an economics team, created a model to calculate what’s owed. The total reparations debt is estimated at $108 trillion, with Britain responsible for a large share—especially to descendants in 31 Caribbean and Central American countries.

The calculation includes:

  • Unpaid labor
  • Physical and emotional trauma
  • Discrimination after slavery ended

Recommendations

The report recommends using this data to start diplomatic talks. It calls for structured reparations payments that recognize both the historical damage and the ongoing effects of slavery.

 

Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Development Research (GCCDR)

Formally established in 2019, the Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Development Research (GCCDR) is a collaborative initiative between the University of Glasgow, Scotland and The University of the West Indies (UWI).

Prof. Sir Hilary Beckles signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Glasgow in 2019 on the establishment of the Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Development Research (GCCDR).

This MoU was a direct outcome of the University of Glasgow’s 2018 report titled Slavery, Abolition and the University of Glasgow, which examined the institution’s historical ties to slavery. While the university played a prominent role in the abolitionist movement during the 18th and 19th centuries, the report acknowledged that it had also benefited financially from individuals whose wealth was partly derived from the proceeds of slavery.

KEY OBJECTIVES

The Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Development Research has among its main objectives:

  • Facilitating impactful research
  • Coordinating academic partnerships with other institutions
  • Hosting scholarly and public events
  • Promoting awareness of slavery’s global legacy and its continuing impact

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Development Research (GCCDR)

Photograph features University of the West Indies faculty who sit on the Board of Directors for the Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Development Research (GCCDR)

  • Professor Simon Anderson, Director of the George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre, University of the West Indies (University of the West Indies)
  • Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of (University of the West Indies)
  • Professor William Cushley, University of Glasgow (University of Glasgow)
  • Dr David Duncan, University of Glasgow (University of Glasgow)
  • Professor Stephan Gift (University of the West Indies)
  • Professor Clive Landis (University of the West Indies)
  • Professor Roibeard Ó Maolalaigh (University of Glasgow)
  • Professor Jude Robinson (University of Glasgow)
  • Professor Naveed Sattar (University of Glasgow)
  • Professor Verene Shepherd (University of the West Indies)
  • Prof. Sonjah Stanley Niaah (University of the West Indies)
  • Dr Christine Whyte (University of Glasgow)

MASTERS IN REPARATORY JUSTICE

In 2023, The University of the West Indies and the University of Glasgow welcomed its first cohort of students to the double degree MA/MSc in Reparatory Justice. This taught Master's programme targets CARICOM citizens, aspiring social activists, persons in the Caribbean and African diaspora with an avid interest in reparatory justice. Through this programme, students can engage with leading scholars in the field at The UWI and at the University of Glasgow. Among the key contributors to the development of the programme are UWI's Prof. Verene Shepherd, Prof. Sonjah Stanley-Niaah, Ms. Gabrielle Hemmings and Dr. Tara Inniss, Dr. Ramona Biholar, and Dr. Christine Whyte.

Photograph features the first cohort of the MA/MSc in Reparatory Justice programme graduated in 2024, L to R: Nicole Whyte; Fer Ortiz Vivas, Fergal O’Donohoe; Fanny Olsson and Cordelia Asamoah. Photo credit UWI Global Campus.

The Centre for Reparation Research (CRR) held a Press Conference on June 10, 2019 where evidence was shown to support the stance that the TransAtlantic Trafficking in Enslaved Africans was not confined to few countries.