Director's Wave | Volume 5 Edition 22

Dear CIS Community

Something to Ponder

The photo displayed is the plaque on the main stairs of the Great House at Pedro St. James. When slavery was officially abolished in the Cayman Islands, it is estimated the population of the Cayman Islands was 2,000, of which about 50% of the population were slaves.

In the “New World” or the Americas, the most notable European nations involved in slavery were Portugal, Spain, Britain, France, Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden. Records demonstrate that Britain started extensive slavery through private trading and business companies in the early seventeenth century. The Royal African Company, based in London was especially prominent.

The United Nations, notes that, for over four hundred years, enslaved Africans fought for their freedom, while colonial powers and others committed horrific crimes against them. Their lives were ruled by terror, as they endured rape, floggings, lynchings and other atrocities and humiliations. Many of those who organized and ran the transatlantic slave trade amassed huge fortunes. Meanwhile, the enslaved were deprived of education, healthcare, opportunity, and prosperity. Descendants of enslaved Africans and people of African descent are still fighting for equal rights and freedoms around the world.

Slavery dates back at least 10,000 years in human history, affecting a staggering number of peoples. Sadly, and appallingly slavery still exists in the world today. Modern slavery includes forced labour, debt bondage, slavery and slavery-like practices, as well as human trafficking. There are an estimated 50 million people enslaved in the world today - with over 12 million being children. There are an estimated 5.1 million people in slavery in the Americas, including over one million people in the USA. The 2023 Global Slavery Index indicated that the ten counties in the world with the current greatest prevalence of slavery (based on number of people enslaved per 1,000 people) are, in alphabetical order, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Kuwait, Mauritania, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates. WIth respect to estimated absolute numbers and modern slavery, the most prevalent countries are in order India, China, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Indonesia, and Nigeria. With each of the above six countries estimated to have more than 1.5 million people in slavery and a combined 25 million people in slavery - and that is just six countries.

This year, Emancipation Day, is recognized on Monday 5 May 2025 in the Cayman Islands. Whilst this is a long weekend in the Cayman Islands, and long weekends inherently involve some elements of celebration, this may also be a time to consider our part to work for a world free from racism, discrimination, bigotry and hate.

Sincerely,

Jim Urquhart
Director - Cayman International School