The UWI Centre for Reparation Research. Jamaica, W.I. Tuesday, April 15, 2025 -- "This House believes that enslaved people were the primary agents of their own freedom". "This House would require reparation from companies with historical ties to slavery." These arguments are the tip of the proverbial iceberg in The University of the West Indies Centre for Reparation Research's (CRR) inaugural staging of the International Reparation Debate Competition for secondary schools.
The competition, launched in March throughout CARICOM territories and the United Kingdom, has focused on critical issues of reparation and Pan-Africanism. High School students have engaged with their peers to deliver stellar performances as they seek to enhance historical understanding and promote meaningful conversation inside homes, communities, schools, and, by extension, the public domain on the legacy and future of African-descended peoples.
Following the first round, 16 schools advanced to the second round. The judges marvelled at the outstanding performances in the preliminaries with high scores of 282/300 from Glenmuir High School, Jamaica and 290/300 from St. Joseph's Convent, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. After a week of fierce competition, the 'Elite Eight' are headed to the quarterfinals on April 9 with a promising group of schools from Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Guyana, followed by the semi-finals on April 16.
The final will be held on April 25 in an intense match-up at The UWI with guest judges from the diplomatic corps, civil society and academia. Interested persons can follow the debates on the CRR’s YouTube page and The Repair Campaign’s Instagram account.
The CRR has recognised that the current climate surrounding discussions on reparatory justice for people of African descent—stemming from the Transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans—requires strategic intervention. Engaging in debate has been identified as a vital component among the strategies available to advance education, promote advocacy, and generate research on this topic.
With the support of Caribbean governments and growing alliances in the Global North, the Centre has advanced this broad-based intervention to raise awareness about reparatory justice. The competition is backed by various partners, including the CARICOM Reparation Commission, the Jamaican Association for Debating and Empowerment, the Repair Campaign, and the Wilberforce Institute.
The shared objective of these organisations is to significantly increase youth involvement, which supports a critical dimension in the CRR's strategic plan: mainstreaming reparation from street to stage.
The students have distinguished themselves through the art of debating with solid interventions in both proposition and opposition roles. As the competition proceeds, the CRR will continue spotlighting youth's intellectual and communicative capabilities in addressing historical and political issues around reparation.
For questions and clarification, please get in touch with the Centre for Reparation Research at reparation.research@uwimona.edu.jm.
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