Lecture to the Young Economists Association, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, February 25, 2010
I suppose that one of the requirements to be a former Prime Minister is that you should be seldom seen, and seldom heard. I fully intend to meet those requirements. Sometimes, however, there will be developments in our public affairs about which it will be difficult to speak, but impossible to remain silent...
One of the most remarkable aspects of the post-earthquake situation has been the resilience and courage of the survivors. In the greater Port-au-Prince area, people have organized themselves in the face of incredible odds…
I shall begin by explaining the reason why I do not support the idea of a petition demanding France to repay the indemnity ($21 billion at current prices) it extorted from Haiti in the 19th century as the price of French recognition of Haitiian independence. Firstly, such a petition is not at all new….
Myriam Merlet, Magalie Marcelin and- Anne Marie Coriolan; Haitian feminist leaders killed in the earthquake
“A loss for the whole nation.” That is how one of Magalie Marcelin’s friends described the death of this women’s rights leader in Haiti’s earthquake January 12…
From the San Francisco Bay View 9/02/09
A summary of the case for restitution of the indemnity extracted by France from Haiti in 1825. The exact title of this article is “Haiti Makes Its Case for Reparations” but it is pointed out that “Haiti’s claim is not really for reparations for slavery,”. … “but for restitution specifically that happened in 1825. It is based on the French government’s efforts to extract 150 million French francs (which is equal to $21 billion today) from an economy the French knew couldn’t afford it, through the use of force. This is impermissible under international law.”..
Professor Alex Dupuy, who is Haitian. writes that “There is no doubt that the dominant economic and political classes of Haiti bear great responsibility for the abysmal conditions in the country that exacerbated the impact of the earthquake (or of hurricanes or tropical storms). However, these local actors did not create these conditions alone but did so in close partnership with foreign governments and economic actors with long-standing interests in Haiti, principally those of the advanced countries-the United States, Canada, and France-and their international financial institutions (IFIs)-the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Inter-American Development Bank”.He outlines a five-point Agenda for Change beginning with rejection of structural adjustment polices, a large-scale public works programme and prioritisation of food security and food sovereignty.
From the Trinidad Express Wednesday, February 10th 2010
AS Caricom continues to keep hope alive for earthquake-shattered Haiti, one challenge that certainly requires urgent diplomatic initiatives is to get France to honour its moral obligation to repaying the debt incurred by its financial demands for Haitian independence…
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Related items
France’s Restitution Debt to Haiti set at $21 billion J. Damu
France Must Return the Charles X Ransom to Haiti: Open Letter to the People of France Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network, June 6, 2004
Sarcozy’s Visit to Haiti: The Numbers in Context Norman Girvan
Flavia Cherry sent us her latest message from Port-au-Prince in response to an eqniry if what is happening could be described as “genocide”.
If ever there was genocide - this is it! People who are very sick are being left in camps where no help is available (see a pipicture of one of the camp sites, made only of bed sheets hang up by flimsy sticks). I interviewed thirty eight women and every single one of them was hungry.
From Norman
Rex’s passing was sudden and untimely and it has taken some time to come to terms with it. To be Rex was to be full of vitality–physical, intellectual, spiritual–so much so that one imagined him to be a permanent feature of the landscape… .
UWI establishes Rex Nettleford Foundation for Caribbean Cultural and Social Studies
Royal Black–A Tribute to Rex Sir Hilary Beckles
Rex Nettleford and the Jamaican Project Claude Robinson
The Guardian of our Crossroads: Remembering Rex Nettleford Honor Ford-Smith
His Spirit Lives On Peggy Antrobus
Thank You, Prof Nettleford David Abdulah
Jamaican Mahogany John Maxwell
Tribute from the University of the West Indies
Tribute from Prime Minister Bruce Golding
A great heart Barry Chevannes
Tribute from Most Hon. P.J. Patterson
Tribute from the CARICOM Secretary General
Dancing to Caribbean Drums: Rex Nettleford Sir Ronald Sanders
Ramphal, Lamming, mourn ‘great loss‘ Rickey Singh
Rex Nettleford, Jamaican Scholar and Educator, Dies at 76 By ROB KENNER New York Times
Dear Editor, The passing of Professor Rex Nettleford has been recognised as a signal loss not only by the Jamaican and the rest of the Caribbean Community - for he was a Caribbean man - but to the wider world community where his influence and impact were enormous. As a Fellow of the Jamaican Institute of Manag …more
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Dear Editor, The Jamaica Progressive League Hartford Chapter Inc expresses deepest condolences to the family of Professor Rex Nettleford. Professor Nettleford was a champion of Caribbean culture in particular, and black national identity in genera …more
Rex will always dance among the spirits
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Dear Editor, Rex’s passing was sudden and untimely and it has taken some time to come to terms with it. To be Rex was to be full of vitality - physical, intellectual, spiritual- so much so that one imagined him to be a permanent feature of the land …more
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
GRADUATES of Cornwall College have been reliving memories of the days at “CC” when one of their schoolmates later turned out to be one of the most distinguished alumni any institution could hope for - Professor Rex Nettleford. Here a group of former …more
Monday, February 08, 2010
Dear Editor, My memory of Professor Rex Nettleford was as a third-former “playing the fool” (about five boys) when we saw this gentleman clad in a large dashiki approaching. At first we thought he was a teacher and were about to “splurt” but stood …more
Monday, February 08, 2010
Dear Editor, Throughout the years people of African ancestry in the Caribbean and the diaspora have been blessed with a distinguished cadre of outstanding cultural icons, but none has been more eminent and no …more
Monday, February 08, 2010
Dear Editor, I would like to join in sending condolences to Rex Nettleford’s family and friends, following his death on February 2. I cherish and will always remember the two occasions I met him. The first was at the first public meeting of the J …more
Propagandists Use Dead Rex Against Cuba David Commissiong
No country endowed with the outstanding creativity, originality, and inventiveness of Haitian culture - its world-class art, its world-class literature and the astonishing technological/scientific/medical knowledge embedded in its voodoo culture - can be considered poor, let alone “the poorest country in the Western hemisphere”. Those who hold such an absurd opinion evidently suffer from an acute form of cultural myopia.
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