The Repair Campaign is pleased to announce its partnership with the Centre for Reparations Research (CRR), at The University of the West Indies, in the launch of the inaugural International Reparations Debate Competition. The competition, titled Tackling Reparations Together: A New Decade for Reparatory Justice, officially kicked off with an online media launch on Friday, February 21, 2025, at 4:00 PM (Jamaica time). 

 

This exciting new initiative engages secondary school students from across the Caribbean and the United Kingdom in critical discussions about reparatory justice. Twenty-four schools from the Bahamas, Curaçao, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the UK are participating in the first round of debates. The competition, which will run from March – April 2025, will address pivotal questions such as: Can a wrongful act by an ancestor be apologised for? Should reparations be paid to governments? How do we engage youth on reparatory justice? 

 

Lucy Gaffney, Director of The Repair Campaign, expressed the organization’s enthusiasm for the competition, stating: “The Repair Campaign is deeply committed to raising awareness among young people about the history and ongoing impact of the transatlantic trafficking of peoples from Africa to the Caribbean. We are excited to support this debate competition because it provides an invaluable platform for students to engage with the pressing issues surrounding reparations. Initiatives like this help cultivate critical thinking, empower youth, and amplify their voices in the ongoing calls for justice for the crimes committed during the horrific period of history. This competition is a vital step in educating the next generation and fostering global conversations on reparatory justice.” 

 

In addition to The Repair Campaign, The CRR has garnered significant support from its partners, including the CARICOM Reparations Commission, the Jamaica Association for Debating and Empowerment, the UWI Press, the PJ Patterson Institute for Africa-Caribbean Advocacy, and the Wilberforce Institute – UK. Together, these collaborators aim to elevate reparatory justice through debate, empowering young people to take an active role in advancing the cause of reparations. 

 

The competition is a key element of the CRR’s broader strategy to mainstream reparatory justice education and advocacy. By engaging youth in meaningful discussions about reparations and African/Caribbean history, the CRR hopes to inspire a new generation of advocates who will carry forward the important work of reparations in the Caribbean. 

  

For further information about the CRR Debate Competition, contact: [email protected]  

 

Meet the competing teams below: