Written By: Kela Roberts & Seth Nurse
Date: April 26, 2025
Theo Tobiase
1. The history of the CARICOM region is a twisted one, it reflects an image of its hateful father, the patriarchal monarch, Britannia, that disdainfully sits atop a throne made of loot, tossing tepid advice rather than a coin at his sons. The region was built to produce, made to fund, a factory of souls that profited, that was all it was ever intended to be. The eventual actualization of the region was a complete chance, a byproduct of industrialization, making the plantation model expensive, old, sloppy, and the human labour it left over was now a liability to be taught, civilized and guided under the banner of colony. Hundreds of years under the father’s boot, learning subordination, broke in the 20th century, but only half way, and the relative newness of the regions nations still leave us in precarious positions, vulnerable to the political plays of the older metropoles. Much is reliant on father Britannia, still, and much of his old subjects hope to reach his shores, the image of subordination and domination playing on many minds, we still seek refuge under the boot. Now, something has changed…
2. Fresh off a Brexit ratification, Britain recently chose to cut ties from its European regional neighbours, secluding itself as it disowns its past and most applicable laws under its prior EU affiliation. The possibilities that ensued were grounds for optimism, effectively eliminating market, trade, traveling and immigration diplomacy from the hassle of an umbrella system that cranks and creeks but rarely engines. Five years ago, marked a new dawn where they could reject their colonial past and foster a friendlier face to foreigners and their forlorn sons. A smile turned guile in legislative minutes.
3. The narrative continues as the colonial nation shows what’s under the skin, this was not an open invitation, this is asking for solitude.
A shameful past making way for a conceited future, and guess who’s still under the boot?
On March 12th the UK made its most recent addition to the list of Caribbean nations whose citizens would require ETA or visas to enter their land. “It’s so we are not taken advantage of in this vulnerable time”.
A subtle irony for a post-colonial empire.
An empire yet to write so many wrongs a bill like this was no doubt to cause online uproar.
If you put Britianna’s legal and political history with Caribbean or Commonwealth nations on a drawing board, it becomes clear who the parasites are.
From the clean-up stunt of the 1948 British Nationality Act to the deceitfully backhanded faint of the 1971 Immigration Act, trickling into most recent revelations of the misdeeds and mishandlings of the Windrush generation
The writing on the wall becomes clear – A mighty nation built and rebuilt off the backs of the subordination of West Indian subjects: unfounded, unthanked and yet remain unwelcomed.
To learn more about reparatory justice and how you can help to progress the movement, visit Caricom’s Reparations Commission page at the link: Homepage – Caribbean Reparations Commission
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