Belize delegation returns from racism conference
It has largely been overshadowed by recent events, but Belize was represented at the world conference against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance held in Durban, South Africa from August thirty-first to September seventh. According to Roy Cayetano, a member of the Belize delegation, several issues were discussed. Chief among them was the Palestine/Israel conflict and slavery and colonialism.
Roy Cayetano
“It’s our view, especially we from the Caribbean…”
Ann-Marie Williams
“People of colour?”
Roy Cayetano
“You can say that. That racism really has had its genesis in the transatlantic slave trade, where persons, people of colour particularly from Africa, were captured from their homes and taken across the middle passage. It’s something that is called chattel slavery, where they were seen as mere commodities that could be used at the pleasure of the settlers. So we believe that this differentiation in society according to colour, according to race, really had its genesis in slavery and colonialism. And it is for that reason that many of us took the view that slavery and colonialism should be declared crimes against humanity because of the effect that it had on a lot of people, and it’s consequences are still being felt today. His Excellency Assad Shoman presented a statement on behalf of the Belizean government and people. We participated actively in the deliberations. We assisted in bringing the Caribbean delegations together for unified a position.
One important lesson I think we learnt, is that it’s very important for us to participate in these international conferences, because I think we have people of high calibre who can provide leadership. I have a great deal of admiration for His Excellency Assad Shoman and his negotiating skills, and those negotiating skills served the Caribbean delegations as a group, served us very well.”
Cayetano says Belize was among ten Caribbean nations which had representation at the “Conference on Racism”.
