Roseburg seeks reparations talks at November Kingdom summit

MP Sjamira Roseburg said the Kingdom summit scheduled for Sint Maarten in November should include direct discussion of the Netherlands’ position on slavery reparations. Roseburg said the meeting should go beyond administrative updates and address longstanding issues affecting the Caribbean countries.

She said she raised reparations and relations between the Caribbean countries and the Netherlands during recent tripartite parliamentary meetings in Curaçao. Roseburg called for Caribbean parliamentary representatives to establish a common position on reparatory justice.

Roseburg said Dutch officials should explain statements rejecting reparations while also acknowledging a need for further discussion of the slavery past. She also called for renewed attention to issues raised in connection with a United Nations resolution on that history.

The Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultations, known as IPKO, are scheduled to be held in Sint Maarten in January 2027. The consultations bring together parliamentary delegations from the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Roseburg said the host Parliament can help identify priorities and shape the agenda, although participating delegations jointly determine the programme.

Roseburg said she hopes the November summit will clarify the Dutch position on reparations before the January parliamentary consultations.