The Saint Lucia National Reparations Committee (NRC) has strongly criticised UK Reform Party leader Nigel Farage concerning potential enhanced visa restrictions should his party win the next general election.
In a statement released by the party and shared by Farage on social media, the Reform Party said it would refuse entry visas to citizens from countries demanding reparations from Britain and Europe for slavery and native genocide, including Saint Lucia.
The NRC called Farage’s stance short-sighted, noting many British politicians have family histories that benefited from slavery’s atrocities.
“While Farage continues to stoke flames of racism and exclusion against immigrants, he would do well to remember that he and other members of the UK’s ruling political class nearly all have deep family roots in Trans-Atlantic Slavery, now belatedly adjudged by the United Nations (UN) as the world’s worst crime against humanity,” the statement read.
Farage rejected recent United Nations resolutions supporting reparations, arguing modern Britain should not be held financially liable for actions from centuries ago. He and his former party, UK Independence Party (UKIP), which helped initiate Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU), have championed anti-immigration sentiments throughout his career.
The NRC said this latest round of statements should fuel action by those supporting the reparatory cause.
“Farage’s latest statement should both enrage and further encourage People of African Descent across the Caribbean and the Commonwealth to deepen the quest by Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and press, even harder, for payment of Britain’s Black Debt, as reparatory justice, to its former West Indian colonies…Reparations for slavery and native genocide are long overdue and the time has long come for the UK and Europe to pay.”
In Monday’s pre-cabinet press briefing, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre said the statement “could be normal political rhetoric from right-wing parties”, but is hopeful that it is not true.
“I’ve said about these things, we can’t lie down and die. We have to fight it. But I really hope that’s not true. It would be unfortunate if that’s true.”
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