Press Statement from The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration on the Honourable Dr Ralph Gonsalves’ George Stewart Lecture at Diplomatic Week 2026

For Immediate Release

21 October 2026

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On 20th October 2026 at Margaritaville Resort, Nassau, The Bahamas, the Honourable Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Leader of the Opposition in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, former Prime Minister and Senior Advisor to The Repair Campaign, was the guest lecturer at the George Stewart Lecture event on the Caribbean’s pursuit of reparatory justice. As part of Diplomatic Week 2026, the lecture paid tribute to the memory and distinguished work of the late George Stewart, a great Bahamian diplomat. Among those in attendance were the Honourable I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister, and the Honourable Fred Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, alongside regional and international diplomats, ministers and parliamentarians.

The lecture was introduced by Dr. Niambi Hall-Campbell, Chair of The Bahamas National Reparations Committee. Dr. Gonsalves outlined the historical, moral, legal and economic foundations of the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) call for reparatory justice for African enslavement. He emphasised that the movement seeks reconciliation, restorative justice and sustainable development.

Recalling that compensation at emancipation was paid to enslavers rather than the emancipated, Dr. Gonsalves argued that the legacies of colonialism continue to shape the region’s economic and social challenges. He reaffirmed CARICOM’s ten-point reparations plan, highlighting formal apologies, public health, education, cultural restitution, technology transfer and debt cancellation as elements of a comprehensive partnership for development.

Dr. Gonsalves also reflected on the evolving legal, moral and developmental case for reparatory justice, noting ongoing efforts across the Caribbean to advance the issue through dialogue, research and international engagement. Concluding his address, he urged European nations and international partners to engage in respectful, structured dialogue, stressing that meaningful reconciliation requires an honest accounting of past atrocities and practical measures to address their enduring consequences.

The lecture formed part of the wider Diplomatic Week programme, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration from 18–22 October 2026 under the theme, Orange, Blue and Green Economies: New Frontiers for Trade and Economic Development.The week brings together Bahamian representatives, diplomatic partners and stakeholders to discuss foreign policy priorities, strengthen international cooperation and explore opportunities for sustainable development and trade.

-End-