The debate on reparations

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Advocate - Although, if readers will forgive the sporting expressions, popular support for the regional claim for reparations for slavery might have been considered a “slam-dunk” or a “gimme” in the current economic environment, it is refreshing to see that the debate has been joined by an opposing contribution from Dr. Leonard Shorey, published in both of the weekend newspapers. It should be recalled that at the end of its 34th regular meeting in July, the CARICOM heads of government issued the following under the caption “The Issue of Reparations for Native Genocide and Slavery” as part of its communiqué: - …Heads of Government were unanimous in their support for action on this issue and agreed that a committee…will oversee the work of a CARICOM Reparations Commission made up of the chairs of National Reparations Committees and a representative of a research unit at the University of the West Indies to drive the issue. An undertaking has been given by all states to establish national reparations committees and to convene their first meeting as soon as possible. JAMAICA-DRUGS-Government urged to legalise marijuana KINGSTON, Jamaica, Aug. 29, CMC - The Portia Simpson Miller led administration is being urged to legalise and regulate marijuana as the nation’s economy could benefit from such a move. This is according to the Executive Director of the US base Drug Policy Alliance, Ethan Nadelmann who believes that although a study has not been carried out surrounding the benefits of marijuana legalisation, anecdotal evidence suggests it could be the next big crop for the island. “If you legally regulate marijuana, first you stop wasting tens of millions of dollars per year on enforcing a policy, secondly you reduce the opportunities for police corruption , you begin to raise tax revenue from the domestic sales of cannabis and you can begin to recruit tourism on that basis.”