I AM CALLING on the governments of CARICOM to help Caribbean nationals at home and abroad to prepare for the changes that are coming.
Please let the people know what they can expect for the International Year for People of African Descent – 2011 – and beyond. How do member states plan to raise the level of consciousness of black Caribbean people so that we may take full advantage of the opportunities being proposed by the United Nations?
Recently Mrs Lesley Walcott gave an excellent presentation on the Financial Crisis and its Implication on Race and Education, at the Christ Church Foundation School’s annual memorial lecture in honour of Robert Thomas.
During the question-and-answer session the question was asked: “How many people present are aware of what the United Nations proposed for 2011?
No one in attendance was even aware that the year 2011 has been proclaimed The International Year for People of African Ascent (Descent), far less what action is proposed by the UN.
It is the lack of this information that has motivated me to write this article. The word ascent has replaced descent because of the connotations of the two words.
The proclamation for The International Year for People of African Ascent was made by the working group of experts on people of African ascent in 2009 and adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 18, 2009 under Resolution 64/169.
The proclamation was made with the view of strengthening national actions and regional/international co-operation for the benefit of people of African ascent in relation to their full enjoyment of economic, cultural, social, civil, and political rights.
It also seeks to strengthen their participation and integration in all political, economic, social and cultural aspects of society and the promotion of greater knowledge and respect for the diverse heritage and culture of African people.
The working group of experts was established following the UN World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia And Related Intolerance held in Durban, South Africa, in 2001 at which slavery and colonialism were declared crimes against humanity.
The mandate of the working group of experts is to monitor the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action from that conference.
I consider it a gross injustice for the people of Barbados and the Caribbean to be kept in ignorance of such a historic development in the liberation process of our people.
I am therefore appealing to the Government to let the people know about the International Year for People of African Descent – 2011 and the proposed opportunities from the UN.
BUDDY LARRIER
