Could you introduce yourself and your work?

Greetings all, I am Dr. Damian Dublin, Chairman of the Dominica Reparations Committee. This committee was formed in 2014 out of a historic decision taken at that time by the heads of government of CARICOM to form National Reparations Committees. Since there was previously no reparations commission in Dominica before we had to go on an advocacy campaign to get the narrative out there and get the people familiar with the terminology. Even though there was no organisation, there were calls for reparations by the Rastafari movement in Dominica and other progressive forces.

In our early interventions, we focused on advocacy with the hope of getting the reparations narrative, which was a concept which we need to get to the people to make them realize that reparations is for you and it should take some interest in it: so we had panel discussions on the radio, we went to the colleges on black history day we went to various schools talking about reparations talking about black history we also highlighted important dates like the birthday of Marcus Gaby, Martin Luther King, and even our local heroes, we made mention of powerful African leaders or dates which had an impact on the whole reparations movement.

What is the significance of reparatory justice in the context of Dominica’s histories?

The Dominican Reparations Committee is guided by the CARICOM reparations committee 10 point plan, which serves as a roadmap, as a template for reparatory justice. We collaborated with, and had a few meetings with The Repair Campaign who actually did a country assessment, basically looking at socio-economic aspects of reparations and the possible needs which dominica as a country could derive from reparations. Previous sessions were heard with different stakeholders and the dominica reparations committee participated we had about three to four meetings until the final draft was produced so we are eagerly awaiting publication of this final shaft which we can look at and see how we can put it to positive use.

The reparations committee has been active in various other areas we have made numerous calls for teaching of black history in schools the teaching of kalinago history in schools we also called for the kalinago language being developed we have been calling for some time for the naming and renaming of places of interest after our heroes, the Maroons, the Kalinago warriors, people who have contributed much to our own countries and development, international figures who have impacted on the whole global struggle. And we will continue to do this in the future.

On November 3rd, Independence Day 2025, that the Prime Minister mentioned that the government is thinking of setting up a heroes park. We welcome this and we are willing to collaborate to make it a reality because we have been calling for this for some time. We also feel that a monument should be established in favor of the Kalinago. We have one set up in the capital city close to a historical landmark Fort Young Hotel in favour of the Maroons.

This should be done for the kalinago indigenous people who were the First People and who kept the integrity of the land active for us; they resisted colonialism to ensure that our land Wai’tukubuli which is Kalinago for ‘tall is her body’ remains as is. We will continue to push for the restoration of places of interest namely the Barracoon building. This is a very important landmark in the history of Dominica, it is where enslaved Africans were taken when the ships arrived – to the barracoon building to the cells there and then they were prepared all up to be put on exhibition for sale at the Roseau Market, the Old Market Plaza, as it is called. So we want those two important historic places of history, places of importance to be known to the public.

We’re thinking that the barracoon could be turned into a museum which could be used to highlight all the historical aspects and even aspects of modern culture arriving out of the presence of our enslaved African brothers and sisters.

What are you looking forward to in the ongoing movement for reparatory justice, both locally and regionally?

In the reparative struggle, all hands on deck will eventually help us to achieve our objectives – I just want to inform as well that the 10 point plan is under review, it’s almost in the final stages and should be made available to the Caribbean area nationally, regionally and globally. This important document is the road map that the dominica reparations committee will be guided by: we are fighting for reparations for enslaved africans who came through the transatlantic slave trade, we are also asking for reparations for the racialized system of chattel slavery and also because our unique position of still having our Kalinago community, we want reparations for the indigenous genocide so in a sense this struggle continues and we want to see that the reparation movement is picking up, it’s gaining global recognition. In fact the united nations have declared another decade of recognition of peoples of African descent. The first decade was established and another decade has been established. So we have to use this decade to ensure that we get as much gains as possible and continue to struggle on the political, diplomatic, legal and all fronts necessary to achieve victory and we will continue to collaborate with all other organizations who are willing to assist and to help in the struggle. Thank you.