Dwight G Sutherland, MP, Minister of Housing, was quoted in the British Guardian newspaper on April 20 stating that the proposed payment of millions of dollars of Barbadian taxpayers’ money to Richard Drax for the acquisition of land at Drax Hall Plantation was simply “an acquisition process at market value . . . . It so happens that this land is owned by Mr Drax but this has nothing to do with reparations.”
However, we must assert that this statement is incorrect and unacceptable. If taxpayers’ money is used to buy the land, then he will be an accessory after the fact to the crimes against humanity that took place on Drax Hall Plantation. Furthermore, it would sabotage the diplomatic work of PM Mia Mottley who has worked tirelessly to bring the issue of reparations to the forefront of global attention. It would be an abomination to ask Barbadian taxpayers to pay the Drax family millions of dollars as compensation for torturing and murdering their ancestors.
Drax Hall Plantation is a crime scene, and we cannot allow the Drax family to be rewarded for their crimes against humanity. Therefore, we must use the Land Acquisition Act Cap. 228, Sections 15 through 18 to meet Richard Drax in court in Barbados. We must assert historical considerations that play a pivotal role in the compensation negotiations and offer $1 plus considerations for Drax Hall Plantation.
We cannot back down from this fight and must appeal the case all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice. We demand justice for the victims of Drax Hall Plantation and will not let taxpayers’ money be wasted on rewarding those who committed crimes against humanity.
Peter Lawrence Thompson MBA, Certified Fundraising Executive (Ret.)
