From Issembly_for_rastafari_iniversal_education2@hotmail.com

Subject: CRO Report on Barbados Meeting
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2004 20:14:43 +0100 (BST)

Report to the Caribbean Rastafari Organisation

on the Planning Meeting for the Establishment of the

Caribbean PanAfrican Network

Bridgetown, Barbados, 11-12 September 2004

Executive Summary

The following report shares information on the recently concluded PanAfrican meeting held in Barbados for the purpose of forming a Caribbean Region civil society network to engage formally with the African Union as an institution, and to be included among the Diaspora representatives within the relevant AU structures. This report provides some background information, salient points from the content of the meeting and highlights its outcomes. A list of recommendations is included for follow-up action by the Caribbean Rastafari Organisation (CRO) and a copy of the meeting¡¯s agenda is attached. Appended are the Press Release on the meeting which was drafted in Barbados and the participants list.

The meeting was attended by delegates from Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominica, Guyana, Haiti, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and the United States Virgin Islands. Resource persons included David Comissiong, President of the Clement Payne Cultural Movement and Director of the Government of Barbados Commission for PanAfrican Affairs which hosted the two-day gathering; Khafra Kambon of the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad & Tobago, Fay Housty of CARICOM who was also a participant in a personal capacity and Jinmy Adisa, Senior Co-ordinator of the African Union¡¯s Diaspora Initiative. The meeting was convened with the support of the African Union which paid the airfares of most participants (including the CRO representative), and provided accommodation for some.

Participants from Grenada, Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas were unable to attend because of Hurricane Ivan. Participants had also been invited from St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Maarten and the British Virgin Islands but these islands were not represented. The organizers acknowledged and apologized for the short notice but stressed the need for all the countries and territories comprising the Caribbean Region, to become active within the network. Some time was spent to determine how the Caribbean would be defined. It was eventually agreed that with their agreement, the countries of Central America would be included.

Among the organizations and institutions represented were the Global Afrikan Congress (GAC), the Nation of Islam and the Ethiopian Peace Foundation. In addition to the CRO representative, Rastafari representation also included the Waitikubuli Nyahbinghi Order and the Ichirouganaim Council for the Advancement of Rastafari. Prior to the meeting a draft position paper from the CRO was circulated to the Executive and other Rastafarians for comment. Slight revision was made based on comments sent in by Ras Nathaniel of IRIE Star Order. The position paper was reproduced by the PanCom Office and circulated along with the delegates¡¯ package at the opening of the meeting. A list of CRO Members and Affiliates throughout the wider Caribbean was later circulated by the representative.

AU Structures & Rationale for Engagement

At the start of the meeting various speakers remembered the African Caribbean fathers of PanAfricanism and a minute of silence was held to observe the passing of a Barbadian PanAfricanist on Saturday 11th. Chairman Comissiong and Br. Kambon gave the background to the meeting, with Brother Kambon reporting on the AU Technical meeting held in T & T during the Emancipation celebration in August at which it was decided to form the Caribbean Network. The purpose of the meeting was to form a network that would provide the mechanism for formal and institutionalised engagement with the African Union.

On both days of the meeting, Dr. Jinmi Adisa provided very valuable information about the history, structure and operations of the African Union indicating that the main distinction between the AU and its predecessor the Organisation of African Unity is that the AU has set out to be a people-oriented institution using the African family approach to include Africans in Diaspora. The participation of the Diaspora in the African family has been mandated in the AU¡¯s Constitutive Act and it is up to the Caribbean to organize sufficiently and strategically for maximum participation. He also emphasized that there were several entry points for Caribbean representation but that careful selection of representatives was necessary especially because very few spaces have been allotted for representation from the entire African Diaspora.

In response to concerns expressed about this, Dr. Adisa repeatedly advocated the ¡°enter and enlarge¡± approach, i.e. for every opportunity to be taken by the network to ensure Caribbean representation wherever possible and to work from within to broaden and deepen the level of representation afforded to the Diaspora. It was noted that the Caribbean Network was being established to demonstrate the AU¡¯s commitment to inclusion as the previously established Western Hemisphere African Diaspora Network was not proving to guarantee adequate representation.

The main structures of the African Union are:

- The General Assembly

- The PanAfrican Parliament (PAP) ¨C not yet an elected body but an advisory body for the first four years.

- The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

- The Civil Society Consultative Summit held prior to each Heads of State Summit and

- Special Interest or Area Clusters ¨C E.g. Health, Agriculture, Trade & Industry, Peace & Security.

ECOSOC, which is the Civil Society General Assembly includes:

¡ñThe Bureau ¨C comprising the President of ECOSOC who is represented in the PAP, 5 Deputy Presidents ¨C one per region, including one from the Diaspora

¡ñ14-member Standing Committees elected by the General Assembly to co-ordinate ECOSOC¡¯s work and in which there should be one Diaspora Rep.

¡ñSectoral Committees

¡ñCredentials Committee to determine criteria for ECOSOC representation and to monitor civil society organizations to ensure that they do meet the requirements.

¡ñLegal Council

¡ñSecretariat ¨C where Dr. Adisa is located

The emerging Caribbean network was required to select its representatives to the next AU Civil Society Forum that would elect the 150 members that would comprise the ECOSOC. Of the 150 spaces only 20 have been allocated for the Diaspora and the advice was that the Diaspora should make a case for parity in representation.

Requirements for accreditation to the AU¡¯s ECOSOC are that the organization:

(i) Must be a Civil Society Organisation and must present proof of having been registered for at least 3 years

(ii) Must show no discrimination on the basis of race, class, religion etc. and

(iii) Must be able to operate in one of the official languages of the AU (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese and Spanish).

However, Chairman Comissiong challenged the AU to reconsider its position regarding registration in view of the challenges of registration to small Caribbean CBO¡¯s and put forward the alternative requirement of proof of record-keeping, active operations, membership and other forms of legitimacy. My thinking is that the Rastafari Nation must be very strategic in not allowing itself to be pigeon-holed as a religion in a way that would limit our participation in these processes.

During his remarks, the AU rep also informed the gathering that the African Union had decided to highlight two important holidays for the African family. The first is Africa Day, formerly known as African Liberation Day. Many of the Caribbean delegates informally indicated a preference for keeping the original name especially, as it was pointed out by two persons, there were still vestiges of colonialism throughout the region and the region needs to be liberated from neo-colonial policies and regimes. However, no counter proposals were strongly put forward. The second holiday is Emancipation Day, and though I did not seek clarification on this, I believe that referred to August 1st when slavery legally ended for the Africans enslaved by the British.

Throughout the meeting the benefits of formal and strengthened linkages with the African Union were emphasized and when necessary, the position of the Rastafari Nation was asserted, i.e., not just engagement with the African Union but Repatriation facilitated by the African Union and the need for the African Union to support demands for Reparations directed to European Nations. The AU rep. named two critical benefits that should characterize the engagement and these were quality dialogue and effective representation. Several participants including the CRO representative, indicated support for the African Diaspora to be considered a 6th Region of the AU. However, it was thought that this would be a gain hard fought for.

Areas of Engagement

Some of the areas for Diaspora engagement with the African Union were identified as follows:

Human Resource Development to minimize the effects of and to reverse the ¡°Brain Drain¡±. The fields of Science and Technology were highlighted.

Fundraising in support of African Initiatives ¨C the question of external (foreign) grant funding was raised and while this was acceptable, the prevailing sentiment was that great care and caution should be exercised to avoid dependency on this type of funding.

Enabling Environment ¨C this could be created via Pan-African Trust Funds and Mutuals, a Pan-African Bank, and other PanAfrican Venture institutions. At this point the CRO rep. made a mental note to query the status of the Co-operative and Trust fund started by civil society representatives at the CRO workshop on Reparations held at the Commonwealth Peoples¡¯ Forum in Abuja in December 2003.

Modalities for Networking & Partnerships within AU ECOSOC included a sample of programmes with a focus on areas such as democracy, cultural exchange inviting African Diaspora leaders to AU deliberations, the involvement of Caribbean Government organizations such as the Government of Barbados Commission for Pan-African Affairs, Federal Citizenship (emphasis mine) and the observation of Pan-African special days mentioned earlier. Several project ideas were also put forward.

CARICOM and South Africa have signed the Spice Island Accord and we must keep abreast so that full advantage can be taken of the benefits and so that we can contribute to broadening the scope.

Outcomes of the Meeting

The following Interim Executive (Management Committee) was established and charged to draft a Constitution of the Network¡¯s expectations. :

1. Khafra Kambon ¨C Emancipation Support Committee, T & T

2. David Comissiong ¨C Clement Payne & GOB Pancom, Barbados

3. Lucie Tondreau ¨C Haiti Action/Veye You (¡°Watch Them¡±), Haiti/US

4. Marta Johnson ¨C Afro Costarican Research Centre, Costa Rica

5. Gene Emanuel ¨C PanAfrican Support Group of the VI, St.Thomas USVI

6. Nadia Raveles ¨C Foundation Koni Kunibili, Suriname

7. Ijahnya Christian, Caribbean Rastafari Organisation, Anguilla

8. Joceline Clemencia, Komite Lucha Di Pueblo/Cultural Institute Independence, Curacao

9. Chedmond Browne, Free Montserrat United Movement, Montserrat

10. Carl Lee Best (Ras Naphtali), GAC Youth Rep. (Barbados)

Three sub-Committees were also established to take action on project ideas in the areas of

I. Communications & Education

Joceline Clemencia ¨C Linguist, promoting African-centred images, Curacao

Umoja Rock ¨C Photo-Journalist, Barbados

Annette Maynard-Watson ¨C Exhibition African-centred images, Barbados

Maxi Fox ¨C African Cultural & Development Foundation, Guyana

Amma Andrea King ¨C Journalist, Sacred Sisters & GAC, Barbados

Dr. Ntuli Okey heads this Committee.

Dr. Okey, a Nigerian living in Barbados for 10 years, presented a project proposal for an educational documentary on Africa and the Caribbean to inform/reduce high level of ignorance, educate and help change visual images of each other.

II. Trade, Travel & Industry

Ricky Parris ¨C PanAfrican Movement of Barbados

Muhammad Nassir ¨C Nation of Islam (willing to personally $ the Network)

Cortwright Marshall ¨C Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement

Douglas Stuart ¨C Nigeria/Barbados (seeking $ for solar power enterprise)

Rep from Emancipation Support Committee

Rep from Caribbean Rastafari Organisation ¨C I recommend Sister Asheba Trotman who can bring Rastafari, grassroots and female perspectives on micro-entrepreneurship. However, the Executive must decide so that the CRO rep¡¯s name can be sent forward as soon as possible.

III. Caribbean Repatriation Census ¨C This Committee comprises

Ras Iral Talma ¨C CRO R & Reparations Network & ICAR, Barbados

Ijahnya Christian ¨C CRO R& R & Triple Crown Culture Yard, Anguilla

Ras Kasate ¨C Waitikubuli Nyahbinghi and CRO Legal Council Dominica (Head of this Committee)

Ras Ikael ¨C Ethiopian Peace Foundation & PanAf Commission, Barbados

Bro. Peter Josie ¨C Organisation for National Empowerment, St. Lucia

It was agreed that this project would be executed in collaboration and integration with the IRIE Star Order Census Initiative so as to centralize the Rastafari efforts in this direction and provide valid data from the Caribbean Region, on the number of persons seeking repatriation. Sister Ijahnya is to forward by email to Brother Kasate, all the info from Ras Nathaniel of the IRIE Star Order.

The Interim Management Committee and the three sub-Committees all held brief meetings at the end of the proceedings on Day 2. During the Executive meeting, it was agreed that Brother Comissiong would draft the formal report from the meeting and circulate it for our comment. I suggested that Brother Kambon of the Secretariat, draft Terms of Reference for the Committee.

At the end of the meeting there was a Press Conference at which I was privileged to make remarks from the Rastafari perspective. I also took the opportunity to encourage the press to take personal as well as professional interest in the historic initiative and to use their influence to prioritize news stories from and about the Network¡¯s activities. Ras Iral has agreed to circulate copies of press products.

Some Observations

¡ñThe meeting was generally productive and a success. It is however clear that Rastafari representatives will have to be quite assertive in making sure that the Rastafari quest for repatriation is placed and remains on the Network¡¯s and the AU¡¯s priority agenda.

¡ñDuring the informal reasoning outside of sessions some concern was expressed regarding possible Marxist influences on the Network. While there is an early history of solidarity born of relations forged within the Black Power Movement, in the Eastern Caribbean there has been a divergence manifested by those who turned to the ideological left and those who chose the path of righteous living. The wounds of betrayal resulting from Rastafari involvement in the Grenada Revolution are still felt. This concern will be expressed so that there will be no hidden agendas.

¡ñWith the exception of the Costa Rica delegate who reported that for the elders in Costa Rica, repatriation referred to going home to the Caribbean islands from whence they came, there was no reference to what is being referred to as the Caribbean Diaspora, i.e. Africans born and bred in the Caribbean Region but who have migrated to Northern metropoles. Mechanisms for their inclusion and participation will also be raised. Email sent to Ras Iral from Elder Rastafari Sister Farika Berhane, based in Washington DC, has expressed her strong interest in engagement with the Caribbean PanAfrican Network.

¡ñI got the impression that there was a certain reluctance to integrate this process of establishing this Network with the work of the GAC Caribbean branch. I could be wrong and I am not quite sure why but there was insufficient time in two days to address every single matter that arose in my thinking. This will be raised when the Executive next meets so that a strategy for inclusion can be agreed.

¡ñThis is really a reflection that the issue of the perceived Arabization of Africa did not arise at the meeting but it would be important to know how the African Union responds to this claim particularly in places like Mauritania, which made a strong plea this to be addressed by the Global Afrikan Congress.

Recommendations

1. CRO to share a copy of the position paper prepared for Barbados to the Jamaica Conference on the Diaspora on October 10 & 11, 2004 as well as with representatives of the Caribbean Diaspora Mission who attended the 3rd AU Summit in July 2004.

2. CRO Repatriation & Reparations Network must vigilantly keep abreast of AU Civil Society meetings, proceedings, decisions and positions so as to make the most effective representational inputs.

3. To this end CRO Secretariat to secure one new computer with appropriate software to service the network. I would like to accept the offer of same made by Ras Touzah JAH Bash of the Solidarity Foundation. Internet expenses will be met locally.

4. The electronic network must be reactivated to share information from the Caribbean PanAfrican Network. All CRO member recipients of this report are reminded to send forward email addresses for this purpose and to ensure the dissemination of information to those with no email access. The Co-ordinator is duly reminded of unfinished business in Dominica.

5. CRO R & R Network Co-ordinator to research the role and function of the International Organisation for Migration which was referred to in response to the matter of repatriation.

6. CRO Member Organisations to contribute additional projects for execution by the Network. The two that were sent prior to the meeting have been passed on to the Network¡¯s Secretariat. The one for the interactive network will fit into others outlined for the Communications and Education Committee.

7. Ijahnya Christian will collaborate with Chedmond Browne of Montserrat to develop and send forward a proposal to address the situation of Africans in the UK Overseas Territories and other ¡°non-self-governing¡± Territories in the Caribbean Region. CRO to identify and establish links with Rastafari organizations in the UKOT¡¯s as has been done in the French, Spanish and Dutch Territories.

Conclusion

¡°The Africans have advanced the concept of Pan-Africanism as the best method of resolving African problems and of further strengthening African Independence and Unity.

Ethiopia has fully identified herself with the Pan-African Movement.¡±

(H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, Feb. 2, 1962)

¡°Today, we look to the future calmly, confidently and courageously. We look to the vision of an Africa not merely free but united. In facing this new challenge, we can take comfort and encouragement from the lessons of the past. We know that there are differences among us. Africans enjoy different cultures, distinctive values, special attributes. But we also know that unity can be and has been attained among men of the most disparate origins, that differences of race, of religion, of culture, of tradition, are no insuperable obstacle to the coming together of peoples. History teaches us that unity is strength and cautions us to submerge and overcome our differences in the quest for common goals, to strive, with all our combined strength, for the path to true African brotherhood and unity.¡±

(H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, May 25, 1963)

¡°No one knows when the hour of Africa's Redemption cometh. It is in the wind. It is coming. One day, like a storm, it will be here. When that day comes all Africa will stand together.¡±

¡°Wake up Ethiopia! Wake up Africa! Let us work towards the one glorious end of a free, redeemed and mighty nation. Let Africa be a bright star among the constellation of nations.¡±

¡°Let Africa be our guiding Star¡ªOUR STAR OF DESTINY.¡±

(Marcus Mosiah Garvey)

Ijahnya Christian - Co-ordinator, CRO Repatriation & Reparations Network

16th September 2004