Gladstone descendants in historic apology for slavery

Charles Gladstone delivering the apology

By Antonio Dey

The descendants of slave owner, John Gladstone yesterday offered a historic apology for slavery and indentureship here amid a small protest at the University of Guyana (UG) where a diaspora studies centre was being launched

Following the reading of the apology there was an audible declaration of rejection and then protestors held placards demanding full reparations in a move that appeared to have caught the organisers of the event off guard.

Earlier, UG Vice Chancellor Dr Paloma Mohammed Martin welcomed the Gladstone family and noted that the apology is just one stepping stone towards achieving reparatory justice and expressed hope that it would bring healing to the Afro-Guyanese Society.