VICE-CHANCELLOR’S REPORT TO COUNCIL 2022—2023
ACTIVIST UNIVERSITY
A HISTORIC REPARATIVE APOLOGY
On February 27, 2023 at a forum co-hosted by the Grenada National Reparations Committee (GNRC) and The UWI, members of the Trevelyan family delivered a public apology and a personal contribution of £100,000 to begin righting the wrongs of their ancestors, who owned more than 1,000 slaves in the 19 th Century. The first point in the Caribbean-led reparatory justice programme championed by The UWI and CARICOM calls for ‘formal and sincere apology’ as a precondition of healing for descendants of enslaved peoples. Accompanied by seven of her relatives, British- American BBC anchor/correspondent Laura Trevelyan read an apology signed by 104 of the descendants of the part owners of six plantations in Grenada. The Trevelyans acknowledged slavery as “a crime against humanity,” and noted “its damaging effect continues to present day”. Conversations with the Trevelyans and the Government of Grenada were guided by Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, who affirmed the transformative significance of the family’s initiative. “These developments require courage and commitment to look into your history, your past and to recognise that a crime has been committed, a crime that has led to your own enrichment and privilege, and to be able to say this was wrong.” “The reparations movement is a call for partnership,” he asserted. “It’s a call for diminishing
the debt owed to the people of this region. And it’s a call to have a shared vision for the future.” He clarified, “We’re not calling for racial strife. We’re not calling for international conflict. We believe reparations is the key for a win-win strategy for both sides of this conversation.” The money will be used to establish an education fund for The UWI Open Campus. Other Trevelyan family members have also made commitments towards bursaries for The UWI Open Campus, Grenada, the Grenada Education and Development Programme, while others have offered their time to ongoing projects in Grenada.
“We repudiate our ancestors’ involvement and urge the British government to enter into meaningful negotiations with the governments of the Caribbean to make appropriate reparations.” The Trevelyan Family
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