Prime Minister Mia Mottley has backed away from government’s planned compulsory acquisition at Drax Hall plantation in St George for housing, paving the way for a negotiated payout of reparations by its British owner for centuries of inhumane treatment of enslaved African ancestors here.
The announcement in a late-night address came as public debate swirled over the planned purchase of some 50 acres of land for low and lower-middle-income housing on one of the Drax estates across the region.
Critics of the acquisition have suggested the government should confiscate the property as reparations rather than enriching the pockets of the owner, British MP Richard Drax, a descendant of Colonel Henry Drax who introduced sugar cultivation to Barbados within a decade of settlement.
But the Prime Minister is adamant that while Barbados will aggressively pursue reparations through advocacy, it has no intention of breaching the Constitution by taking up anybody’s land without paying them.
She said that having already met with Drax, and though not happy with the pace at which talks have been progressing, she believes the focus should be on pushing for a reasonable settlement for reparations.
“And to that extent, the government has expressed itself of wanting to be able to find a settlement that would be just for the people of St George and for the people of Barbados,” the PM said.
“Given the conversation, I believe that it is appropriate for us to pause the acquisition, to allow for greater conversation to take place, and also for us to be able to see where we are in terms of being able to get some kind of reasonable settlement with Mr Drax, recognising that in our conversations, without prejudice to anything else, he is aware that the Government of Barbados feels strongly about this, and will pursue these matters.”
Drax, 66, a parliamentarian in the ruling Conservative Party, was set to receive some £3 million (BDS$7.5 million) from the land purchase.
Mottley said she did not take lightly the concerns of many Barbadians who may feel that they have been robbed of the opportunity of having an appropriate settlement as a result of the reparations that ought to be made as a result of the blood, sweat and tears of Barbadians over centuries.
She said: “The Tenantries Freehold Purchase Act was enacted and dealt with by successive governments because we recognise the need for the government of Barbados, whoever that government is, to be able to make reparations for people whose ancestors were forced to live in some of the harshest conditions and who were deprived of all opportunities to be able to make the best for themselves and their families.
“So, we get the concept of reparations domestically, but also as we have been doing, internationally. The reality is that we have been at the forefront in making the call for reparations, against those who contributed to the decimation of this country and the lives of people while at the same time enriching themselves and building out the industrial revolution and that which has now become the climate crisis caused by the greenhouse gases and emissions coming from the industrial revolution. So, we get it.”
But at the same time, the prime minister reminded Barbadians that this nation is governed by the rule of law.
“We have never made it a habit, nor am I aware of any example, where we have expropriated people’s land,” she said. “When people have land that is the subject of compulsory acquisition, by law we are due to pay for it. At the same time, that does not preclude us from going aggressively to be able to pursue, both through our advocacy and as we are seeking to do in recent times, through our preparation through what are our legal options, with respect to being able to take action.”
Prime Minister Mottley contended that such action would not only be against the owner of Drax Hall but against all others who have contributed to this country being one of the worst examples of modern racism in the Americas.
Mottley said her government believes there is a justifiable case for it to continue to mount.
“We in fact met with Mr Drax some time ago. I am not happy with the pace at which these discussions have continued. But believe you me, we will, as we are required to do, pause, and listen to Bajans to understand what is really at stake here, recognising that we do not cut off our nose to spoil our face.
“And what do I mean by that? That we should not deny ordinary Barbadians who are in need of housing, the opportunity to have housing, but at the same time, that we pursue with greater alacrity, the issue of reparations with Mr Drax and with respect to any other with whom there is a case and a chain of custody that we can justify.”
The prime minister pointed out that Drax Hall is one of the few estates whose chain of custody can be traced back to the 17th century.
“I hope that this explains matters to each and everyone, recognising that even though we believe that a wrong has been perpetrated to us, we were always taught as children that two wrongs don’t make a right. And those who sought to ignore the law or who sought to make the law…and root it in immoral purposes cannot be our moral compass today as to how we act.
“Having said that,” she added, “we will go after all legitimate actions that we can take through advocacy and legal issues to be able to justify our claim for reparations, while at the same time finding ways to meet the day-to-day needs and immediate needs of Bajans who are in need either of
housing or who see this as a platform, like through free education, to bring themselves out of poverty.
“And that which was done in earnest to perpetuate the profits of a previous generation cannot now be the inclination for us to expropriate land in breach of the Constitution of Barbados. So, we will do what we have to do, but always recognise that as a country governed by the rule of law, that people have their rights safe in this country and can be justified in feeling confident that they are dealing with a serious country who does not act arbitrarily and capriciously.”
Drax Hall, where sugar cane was introduced, driving the plantation slave economy, has been described by historian Sir Hilary Beckles as a “killing field”. An estimated 30 000 enslaved people died on the Drax estates over a span of 200 years.
emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb
