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Guyana reaffirms commitment to reparations, equity at UN forum
(Kaieteur News) – Guyana on Tuesday reiterated its commitment to reparations, racial justice and equitable development for people of African descent, as Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Vanessa Benn, addressed an international United Nations forum.
Delivering a statement at the Fifth Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, Benn said the Government remains “steadfast” in advancing policies aimed at reducing historical inequalities while promoting sustainable development.
Speaking during a panel on reparations, sustainable development and economic justice, the minister said Guyana supports global efforts to uplift people of African descent and reaffirmed its adherence to international agreements, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.
Ministers Vanessa Benn and Steven Jacobs, Guyana’s Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Leslie Ramsammy, and others, in Geneva, Switzerland (Photo: Minister Benn’s Facebook page)
Benn told delegates that Guyana “unequivocally” condemns racism, discrimination and socioeconomic exclusion, while calling for stronger global action to protect vulnerable populations. She also welcomed the United Nations’ recognition of slavery as a crime against humanity, noting that such acknowledgment, though “long overdue,” is critical to advancing the reparations agenda.
The minister warned that global challenges, including conflict, supply chain disruptions, rising fuel and food prices, and climate change, are worsening poverty and inequality, particularly among marginalised communities. She further condemned what she described as the “racist and disproportionate treatment” of migrants of African descent.
Benn urged greater support for the forum and called on the wider UN system to respond more effectively to the needs of vulnerable groups. Highlighting domestic measures, she said the Government’s “One Guyana” development model is focused on inclusive growth, with expanded access to housing, potable water and food security.
According to Benn, nearly half, 47.1 per cent, of the 51,756 house lots allocated nationwide over the past five years were granted to Guyanese of African descent. She added that policies are also targeting rural and ancestral communities through economic and resilience programmes.
“Guyana stands resolute in its support for people of African descent to live in dignity and thrive in societies defined by equity, justice and opportunity,” Benn said. The forum continued with discussions on advancing reparatory justice and addressing systemic inequalities affecting people of African descent worldwide.
Benn, along with Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Steven Jacobs attended in Geneva, Switzerland together with Guyana’s Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy.
In addressing delegates on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Jacobs said CARICOM states remain firm in their push for reparations, grounded in what he described as a “lived reality” shaped by the enduring impacts of slavery and colonialism.
He noted that while the United Nations General Assembly has formally recognised slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as crimes against humanity, acknowledgment alone is insufficient to address the deep-rooted inequalities that persist.
Jacobs pointed to growing international momentum on the issue, including strengthened ties between Africa and the Caribbean and initiatives such as the Accra Proclamation, which he said reflect a shared commitment to confronting historical injustice through collective action. He further warned that the legacy of enslavement remains embedded in global economic systems, contributing to ongoing imbalances and limited development opportunities, particularly for Small Island Developing States. These challenges, he said, are compounded by climate change and other global pressures. Calling for a more coordinated global response, Jacobs urged alignment between reparatory justice efforts, reform of international financial systems and equitable climate action. CARICOM, he added, stands ready to continue working with international partners to advance justice, equity and sustainable development for people of African descent.
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