Edgard Leblanc Jr., Presidential Transition Advisor, representing Haiti, actively participated in the 2nd Africa-CARICOM Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, whose central theme was "justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations."

Excerpts from Advisor Leblanc Jr.'s speech :

"[...] Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are gathered today to discuss a topic of critical importance to African peoples and those of African descent : restorative justice. It evokes a dark chapter in human history: that of slavery. Torn from their families and sold like cattle, our ancestors suffered the worst horrors of the system of oppression, dehumanization, and extraordinary violence established by the colonial powers of the time.

For too long, we have sought to relegate this history to the dustbin of the past and erase its harmful consequences from memory. Today, we, the peoples of Africa and those of the 6th region of the African Union [the African diaspora], stand united to demand justice and reparations [...]

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The history of Africa is not that of an isolated continent. It is shared by all those who, in one way or another, are connected to this past of suffering, struggle, and resistance. Haiti, a symbol of this tenacious, unwavering resistance, bears a double scar : that inherited from slavery and that of the ransom paid for its freedom [...]

The demand for justice through the repayment of this debt goes beyond a simple duty of remembrance. It is an obligation to our ancestors, to the Haitian people. Reparation is not only compensation; it is first and foremost recognition. Recognizing that this past has left deep and complex scars, the effects of which continue to contribute to widening the inequality gap today [...]

Mr. President,

Allow me to take this opportunity to welcome the French National Assembly's decision to adopt Resolution 1267, which seeks recognition, repayment, and reparation by France of the double debt of independence [...] However, this approach must lead to tangible measures, geared toward reparation projects on the financial, cognitive, and memorial levels. [HL : President Macron acknowledged a moral debt https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44717-haiti-price-of-independence-macron-takes-a-small-step-toward-recognizing-a-moral-debt-statement.html ]

To strengthen the international efforts initiated by the CARICOM Reparations Commission, the Haitian Government has created a Haitian National Committee for Reparation and Restitution (CNHRR) [..] whose main objective is to raise awareness worldwide about the need to act so that this restorative justice can become a reality [...] https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45737-haiti-politic-official-inauguration-of-the-haitian-national-committee-for-restitution-and-reparation.html

[...] Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to draw your attention to the following: Attention to the term Restitution [...] Haiti, after successfully leading the first and only victorious slave revolution and winning freedom and independence on the battlefield, was forced, under threat, to pay an exorbitant sum commonly referred to as 'The Debt of Independence'. This debt, more precisely this ransom, whose immoral, illegal, unjust, and illegitimate nature has been widely recognized, has proven to be a heavy burden on our country’s finances and economy for more than a century and a half. Today, we demand its repayment at its present value, and we call upon the solidarity of our African and Caribbean brothers and sisters, and of all people of African descent in general, to support us in this process of restitution [...]"

HL/ HaitiLibre