THE EDITOR, Madam:
I am writing with reference to David Salmon’s article in The Gleaner of August 31, titled ‘Pragmatic reparations versus noise’, in which he pointed to the joint masters programme (MA/MSc) in Reparatory Justice. This programme has been launched in collaboration between the University of Glasgow and The University of the West Indies (UWI) as an initiative of the Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Development Research established in 2019. Salmon raised concern about this programme. I thought he might have been wrong and the course was about reparatory justice, meaning dispute settlement.
According to a press release, this is a double masters programme in reparatory justice and is promoting reparations studies and advocacy. Scholarships are offered and the course starts this month.
As we know, in the world rankings for homicide, the top-10 countries include several CARICOM countries headed by Jamaica. We are in bondage to crime and violence. Would we have benefited more from a reparatory justice masters programme aimed at reducing crime and violence? According to Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck, restorative (reparatory) justice could play a greater role in curbing crime.
What really is the long-term value to the region of a double masters in reparatory justice, promoting reparations advocacy?
MARCIA THOMAS