Some of the ‘isle’ folks are seemingly quick to disassociate themselves from the word ‘slavery’, and they have every right of choice to do so. But, it was nice and quite a joy for me to read and to share on this platform, that President François Hollande, the French President, opened the largest slavery memorial in the world, constructed over a former slave sugar refinery site, on the once enslaved- lovely island of Guadeloupe last month May 2015. And, also a 10 metre high sculpture named ‘Memoires’ was constructed in the town of Brest,in France, a former French slave port. The sculpture ‘Memoires’ consist of two faces, one face looking towards the Atlantic and the other face looking towards Europe.

Personally, I am delighted that the ‘slaves’, both those who died enroute and those who survived, those who died of hunger in the sugar fields etc and those who by the passing of laws got some salted food. It is deeply humbling to know that they have been remembered by the French government, for never will I dissociate myself from my slave ancestors and slave ancestors of the wider extended community. For, in line with the principle of reciprocity (sharing/giving), ‘isle’ slave ancestors gave their all …….. and all Praise to God who too have eyes to see and ears to hear, may God reward those who took the initiative to remember the raw-muscavado’d sugar boiling experts, sugarfield workers,field nurse, house servants, obeah folks, etc etc - the ‘sugar isles’ ‘slaves’ with an earthly memorial - it eases my hurt just a little bit.

And exalting with the larks, I humbly say on behalf of the slave ancestors, Merci beaucoup, Monsieur President Francois Hollande, Merci beaucoup - for my great-grand-mother would of said, ‘EH,EH, they remember them, that’s a good thing!

Now! Now! Now!  my good Lady G,

Pardon me for my non-compliance to the "rules of debating" as set forth earlier by our Brother, Zafar. But as I had earlier been "PUT", my response can only be limited to that of a conversation and hopefully, away from his prying eyes and those of Barbadian, Sir Hillary Beckels. I would hate to fret either of them as both gentleman seem to be cut from a special loin of cloth and blessed with conversational nuances that can only be understood by the few.
Bless them.

But on point My Lady, must I remind you of the evil deeds the French had perpetrated on our Forefathers and in a manner so vile and brural, that it held the gold standard for psychopathic brutality and barbarity ever to unleach on humanity?

I am sure you may recall what they had done to our Brothers and Sisters of Haiti back in 1825. As History would record it, they had demanded indemnity of 150 Million dollars  in gold from the Haitians (40 billion US in today's currency) as reparation for their freedom. I wonder if the word "arrogance" does justice to that form of behavior?

This one act alone had sealed Haiti's faith with a designation today as the most abject poverty stricken country in the Western Hemisphere; never to recover and now they seek atonement through recognition of just a monument and how pleased we are?

And what is so "delighting" about our ancestors >>>>>who died enroute and those who survived, those who died of hunger in the sugar fields etc and those who by the passing of laws got some salted food? <<<<< As you did not preface this coment in context, I need to elevate my level on thinking in order to understand your delight but I view this (slave sustainability preserve with salt....corning of the flesh) with utter disgust and contempt for every facet of all slave owner's action, "salted food" and all.

But unlike your Grand Mother, my Great Grand Mother, despite her good broughupsie would have spat in the face of Hollande and in true form of her Patois parlance would have said to him "chu! Mamau, ah want me Great Granfaddah pay".

So please do not get carried away with this bleeding heart initiative of France as  that country tries to appease its conscience by placating us descendent of former slaves. Their place in Hell is already secured, as some of our descendents had purposely  re-routed their travels just to ensure that the fire would be  properly lit for their arrival and no "Monsieur President Francois Hollande" and his dash! Memorial can save them.

A more rewarding initiative would have been a returned of our people's wealth to aid in building our country.

I fear that one day we all would be receiving a bill, demanding payment for our ancestor's vacation trip on one of their luxary liners. And we would be told that they were adorned with jewelry on their Necks, Wrists and Ankles as they cruised along the Middle Passage to their vacation destination in the Caribbean.

No! my Sister Lady G, I am not delighted and  in the words of Black Stalin, I too would send word to St. Peter on judgement day saying to..... "burn dem".

VJL

My dear Brother Vernon
I am very humbled by the complement you so graciously paid me. I say Alhamdulillah (means; all praise belong God) for that. Peace blessings and security to you my dear Brother.
I see you are a fan of Sir Hillary Beckels. He is the one Caribbean gentleman I have more respect for than anyone else in the region. May God bless him and give him long life to carry on his good works…Ameen

I am very happy to see that you touch on the root cause of the Haitian problem. I concur with every word you say.

Two days after the earthquake, I went to Haiti to work as a volunteer doing logistic for Humanity First. I spend six weeks there and experience the most horrific conditions one could ever imagine, and up to this time our brothers and sisters there are no better that the first few weeks after the quake strike.
While I was there they left the doors of a prison open and 3000 hard core criminals walk out, they were robbing, raping and killing people. At the same time 20 thousand American troops were on the ground, but they never lift a finger to help prevent these crimes.
The US builds their biggest embassy in the world in Haiti, earthquake proof, not even one window was shattered in it. Two days before the earthquake the embassy perform earthquake drills. As if they knew the earthquake was coming. The question is: why such a big building when they do not give Haitians visa and there are no foreign embassies there to spy on? We can only speculate. But don’t be surprised if Haiti becomes the sweatshop of the Caribbean and a bargaining chip to bring down the cost of labor in the American factories in Central and South America. I saw what the Red Cross did there, I saw what the UN did there, I saw what UNICEF did there I saw what bush and Clinton foundation did there and I know the kind of funds they receive for helping Haiti from all around the world. Unfortunately these funds never reach the Haitian people. These organizations only piggyback on Haiti to enrich themselves.
In 1915 the US invaded Haiti, when the general in charge of the invasion was ask why he said; “to collect the balance of the debt Haiti owed to France.” The fact is the French and the North Atlantic Alliance crippled Haiti and the US made sure that Haiti remain crippled. Contrary to people’s opinion Baby Doc was the best president Haiti ever had. And Aristae was the worst.
Now I come to the question about France and the slave monument Lady G is so exuberant about. Such a monument is nothing more than a blindfold over the people’s eyes to stop them from looking at the real reality of slavery. What they should be doing if they really care is; paying Haiti back the 150m French gold franks which would be billions of dollars in today’s currency. And also paying reparation the decadence of every one they enslaved. Then and only then will I think they are remorseful.

>>It is deeply humbling to know that they have been remembered by the French government ........... And exalting with the larks, I humbly say on behalf of the slave ancestors, Merci beaucoup, Monsieur President Francois Hollande, Merci beaucoup - for my great-grand-mother would of said, ‘EH,EH, they remember them, that’s a good thing!<<

Humbling? Did you really write that, or is that just to stir up a discussion?
Lady G, for someone who can at times be so chastising of our old colonial masters(remember Mother?), I find it incomprehensible that you can come to a conclusion like that and actually post it!
Personally I don't care what monuments or artifacts that the French or the British or the Americans for that matter may erect or uncover today, their CRIMINAL acts of the past will always overshadow everything else that they try to do to appease their conscience.

Why should we be thankful to France, when Haiti was humiliatingly brought to its knees with a so-called debt in order for that country to be "recognized"? In good conscience, how can one be made to pay his enslavers after through his own initiatives he delivered himself from their slavery? Who really should be compensated here? If that's so, shouldn't the Jews likewise still be paying the Egyptians? Or are they exempted?