CARICOM renews call for reparations for Haiti

As the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) strengthens its push for global reparations, Haiti has taken center stage once again.

During remarks at the Fourth Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett underscored the continued significance of Haiti’s case—especially with a painful anniversary looming.

“Reparations for Haiti continue to be central to CARICOM’s reparations claim. April 2025 marks the bicentenary of the indemnity of 150 million Francs imposed on Haiti by France as reparations for loss of property, including enslaved Africans, and as a precondition for recognizing the island’s independence,” Dr. Barnett said.

“The negative economic and social effects of this historical injustice are painfully clear, with arguable links to the situation in Haiti today. This anniversary presents an opportunity to bring global attention and a deeper understanding of the situation in Haiti and serves as a call to action to address the ongoing security, humanitarian and governance crises in the country.”

Dr. Barnett’s remarks were made during a session themed “Africa and People of African Descent: United for Reparatory Justice in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”, as the UN’s Second Decade for People of African Descent gains momentum. The timing is also significant, with the African Union declaring 2025 the year of “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.”