Esteemed jurist Patrick Robinson has endorsed the estimated US$9.5 trillion as appropriate reparations owed by the United Kingdom to Jamaica for the historical transatlantic chattel slavery.Â
A report titled “Report on Reparations for Transatlantic Chattel Slavery in the Americas and the Caribbean,” authored by international economics consulting firm Brattle, also calculated that Spain owes Jamaica an additional US$103 billion.
Robinson, who provided the introduction to the paper, emphasized the meticulous consideration given to the figures. He acknowledged that while some might find the numbers staggering, they accurately represent the gravity of the grotesque and unlawful practice of transatlantic chattel slavery. As a member of the International Court of Justice, Robinson underscored that these high figures unequivocally reflect the severity of this historical injustice.
The report, presented to Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange, is notable for its groundbreaking nature. Robinson termed it historic as it presents a methodically reasoned and scientifically supported quantification of reparations due for the widespread practice of transatlantic chattel slavery across the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and North America.
Patrick Robinson’s endorsement and the Brattle report’s calculations provide a significant step forward in the ongoing discourse on reparations, shedding light on the substantial debt owed to nations affected by transatlantic chattel slavery. This meticulous and scholarly approach adds a compelling dimension to the call to acknowledge the historical injustices and address their lasting impact.
