‘Indefensible’ that Londoner living in UK for 44 years was told to pay upfront for treatment

Albert Thompson, 63, arrived in the UK from Jamaica as a teenager in 1973, and has lived here continuously ever since. He is currently not receiving the radiotherapy treatment he needs for prostate cancer because the London hospital where he was due to be treated told him he needed to provide proof of residency or pay upfront for treatment.

Politicians, doctors and cancer charities have responded with outrage to the case of a Londoner asked to pay £54,000 for cancer treatment because he was unable to provide evidence of residency, despite having lived here for 44 years.

Read the full story….… Read on ...

A revolutionary legacy Haiti and Toussaint Louverture

The Asahi Shimbun Displays
A revolutionary legacy: Haiti and Toussaint Louverture, a temporary spotlight display at the British Museum, opening on February 22nd (until April 22nd).

The display highlights the history and legacy of the Haitian Revolution, and the man who emerged as its foremost leader: Toussaint Louverture (1743-1803). At its heart is a newly-acquired portrait of Louverture by the African American artist Jacob Lawrence (printed in 1986 after a painting first made in 1938). Paired with this imposing, boldly-coloured image is a Haitian Vodou boula drum, on show for the first time since entering the Museum’s collection in 1930.… Read on ...

NGO crimes go far beyond Oxfam

In 2008 some of us had written to Barbara Stocking, then Oxfam chief executive, objecting to a report that it sponsored, Rule of Rapists in Haiti, which labelled Haitians as rapists while hiding rapes by occupying UN forces. The year before, 114 soldiers had been sent home for raping women and girls, some as young as 11. No one was prosecuted. We wrote: “NGOs like Oxfam have known about rapes by UN forces, as well as by aid and charity workers, for decades. It’s the pressure of victims, women and [children] in the most impoverished communities, who had the courage to speak out that finally won … public acknowledgement.” There was no reply.… Read on ...

DECLARATION OF THE PEOPLE OF THE CARIBBEAN

( A Declaration that was authored by the Pan-Africanist and Socialist popular forces of the Caribbean nation of Barbados at Bridgetown, Barbados on Saturday 13th January 2018, and  submitted to the people and civil society organizations of the Caribbean for their endorsement and adoption)
U S PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN DECLARED  “PERSONA NON GRATA”  IN THE CARIBBEAN
We, the under-signed representatives of the sovereign people of the Caribbean, hereby declare that President Donald Trump of the United States of America is “Persona Non Grata” in our Caribbean region !
We further declare that as a “Persona Non Grata” President Donald Trump is NOT welcome in any territory of the Caribbean, and we hereby affirm that we – the Caribbean people – will vehemently protest against and take whatever measures are necessary to prevent President Donald Trump’s entry into any portion of the sovereign territory of our Caribbean region.… Read on ...

By Our Own Hands – A People’s History of the Grenadian Revolution

A pamphlet from CLS by Steve Cushion and Dennis Bartholomew

Between 1979 and 1983, the people of the Caribbean nation of Grenada made a courageous attempt to overcome the legacy of slavery, British colonialism and a viciously corrupt post-colonial dictatorship.

The tragic last few days of the Revolution have obscured the remarkable achievements of the Grenadian people during the previous four years. In the face of the unceasing hostility of the United States government and its continual destabilisation campaign, the people of Grenada rebuilt their economy with an emphasis on social justice and economic stability rather than mere profit for, mainly foreign, capitalists; they established a remarkable education system and improved their health service; they started a house-building and housing repair programme that addressed the needs of the poorest members of society.… Read on ...

Stop the Deportations

CLS Meeting, Sunday 7th January at 12 noon till 2pm

We are increasingly concerned at the number of elderly people of Caribbean origin, who have lived and worked in Britain for many years, who are being threatened with deportation.
We are aware that it is not just a problem facing Caribbean people, but anyone who the government is pleased to label as “foreign”, including some EU citizens. We wish to start a debate on how best to campaign to support those of all communities who are currently being threatened with expulsion.

Speaker: Michelline Ngongo

Islington Pensioners Forum
1A Providence Court,
Providence Place,
London N1 0RN

… Read on ...

China and the Caribbean – Lesson from History?

Developing Answers Through Dialogue

The Peoples Republic China (PRC) has over the last decade steadily increased its economic involvement across the globe and in the Caribbean region. Caribbean Labour Solidarity asks whether this a positive or a negative development or is it colonialism or imperialism in a new guise. CLS feels that there is a need to start a discussion on these developments.

Participants are asked to contribute to the discussion in order to develop answers through dialogue.

On this short paper I will examine the background to China’s new found role in international development; the part it plays in the economic structures of the Caribbean; examples of what it has done; criticism and critiques of China and the regional governments; China’s response to local and international criticism; and the role of CLS in this discussion.… Read on ...

16 days in 16 ways

As part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, Luke Daniels, President of CLS and Author of “Pulling the Punches, Defeating Domestic Violence” and “Defeating Domestic Violence in the Americas – Mens’ Work” will lead a discussion on the issue.

CLS Meeting, Sunday 3rd December  at 12 noon till 2pm

Islington Pensioners Forum
1A Providence Court,
Providence Place,
London N1 0RN

… Read on ...

Richard Hart Centenary Lecture

Curry and Roti [£5] available from 12:30

Please register so that we have some idea of numbers.
Register via Eventbright here…

Saturday 25 November from 12:30 to 4:00pm
UNITE the UNION
33-37 Moreland Street, London EC1V 8BB
(nearest tube Angel)

Programme starts 1.00pm promptly
Welcome by CLS President Luke Daniels
Keynote address: Selma James
“Aiming for Caribbean Federation: a personal reminiscence”

Launch of new CLS Pamphlet: By Our Own Hands: A People’s History of the Grenadian Revolution
by authors Steve Cushion and Dennis Bartholomew

Artistic performance: Kaiso by Alexander D Great

download a leaflet…

… Read on ...