In a democracy, one of the most important rights that every citizen must pursue is the right – not just a privilage – to vote and select their elected representative. If the person standing as a candidate claims to be representing a particular political party then the citizen’s vote for that person is also a vote for the party, this must include the rights of citizens who cannot read or write (the “illiterate”).
The democratic and human rights of black Barbadians have been violated by our colonial rulers from 1627, and also at times by successive governments from 1966 – our independence. Therefore, if Barbados is to be a successful Democratic Republic there are things that must be done before November as the government has informed the people that the time has come to leave our colonial past behind. Barbados is also in a leadership role in the claim for Reparations – repairing the damage – that was done by our colonial rulers. The Non-State Actors Reparations Commission Inc. (NsARC) is in full support of the action being taken by the government.
The NsARC acknowledges that from day one of Barbados’ development as a nation the people had been lied to about almost everything. Therefore, the illiterate in today’s Barbados (21st Century) is not those who cannot read or write but those who cannot unlearn the many lies that they have been taught or believe. However, the fact is some people can be fooled most of the time, and most people can be fooled all the time, but all the people cannot be fooled all of the time.
The NsARC is therefore calling on the government to put right what was used to violate the democratic rights of its citizens by our European colonizers, and also to correct some of the wrongs that was done by successive governments from 1966. The following are some of the most important that we ask of government:-
- That it correct the change the constitution to ensure that political parties are represented in the House of Parliament, thereby giving citizens the right to vote for a political party instead of only individuals, which is the present situation.
- That if it supports the proclamation by CARICOM Reparations Commission that October 12 is the Caribbean Holocaust Day then a resolution should be tabled to the United Nations in support of the World Social Forum that October 12 be designated the International Day for Reparations to promote truth, justice, peace, healing and reconciliation.
- That it officially designate Bridgetown as a City of Peace to advance the process of the Caribbean becoming a Zone of Peace – one city at a time.
- That it repeal the 1661 Slave Code Act, if it has not been repealed; and if it has, that the people of Barbados be informed as to when it was repealed.
The above are recommended for helping prepare Barbadians to have a Peace of Mind to their troubled history of 394 years of human and civil rights violations. The most pertinent of examples is that the government is under international pressure to allow same sex marriages to become legal in Barbados. If this was allowed is would reintroduce what happened following the Englishmen arrival in 1627 with 10 Afrikan men, after which the parish of St. James became labeled as the gold coast – homosexuality – and Barbados being considered the homosexuality capital of the West Indies (Caribbean).
Over the past 44 years (1977) I have been exploring opportunities to share my understanding of world history from the 1490s because of a vision given to me of a New World Order for the 21st Century. From 1978 I have been warning of the human and social rights violation of black people through the 1959 British Mental Health Act. From the 1990s I have been warning Caribbean national of the importance of returning home (the Society for the Resettlement of Caribbean National), and the people of the world of a evil plot to depopulate the world by two billion mainly people of Afrikan descent. In 2020 I warned the government against removing the statue of Lord Nelson on the date November 16 – the International Day of Tolerance – but my warning was ignored. The spirit of white supremacy which the statue represented is still present in the city. The present situation with the COVID-19 pandemic has provided me with the opportunity to give what might be my final warning to Barbadians as I regard this COVID-19 pandemic as the last battle in the war that was started in 1492 between black and white people resulting from Columbus’ arrival in the Caribbean on October 12, 1492. Therefore, for me today is the tomorrow that we have been waiting for yesterday. In other words the time for action is now to free our minds from mental slavery.
I am therefore asking the media houses to assist me in getting this information out to the people, because the lives of many more Barbadians and other CARICOM citizens might be in danger. In this endeavour a conversation with the general public is being held each Sunday at 6:00PM, I am hosting an open Zoom meeting on the subject matters of Mental Health, Racism, Classism and Sexism, the meeting link is ID 715 7928 2711 and passcode Justice, all are invited to join in this discussion on the four most topical subjects.
Elder Rev. Buddy Larrier