On Monday, September 7, 2020, during an interview with 284 Media, Mr Jaspert said paying reparations to the VI for acts of slavery and the slave trade is not the position of the UK at the moment.

He also called for relics of slavery such as the channel named after slave owner Sir Francis Drake to be preserved in the Territory for educational purposes.

On Monday, September 7, 2020, during an interview with 284 Media, Mr Jaspert said paying reparations to the VI for acts of slavery and the slave trade is not the position of the UK at the moment. He also called for relics of slavery such as the channel named after Slave Owner Sir Francis Drake to be preserved in the Territory for educational purposes.

Hypothetical ‘Holocaust Highway’

Now, according to the Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development, Hon Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL), speaking at the 14th Sitting of The Second Session of The Fourth House of Assembly yesterday, September 29, 2020, the Governor’s statement cannot be justified.

“Could you imagine, we have the Sir Francis Drake Channel... could you imagine a street or a highway in London called the Holocaust Highway?” the Legislator questioned.

Hon Flax-Charles comments came following outrage expressed from some community members urging the Governor to apologise for the statements deemed disrespectful to not only the people of the VI, but also enslaved ancestors who fought for the freedoms enjoyed today.

Hon Flax-Charles continued by saying that should there be a ‘Holocaust Highway’ in the UK, “there would be a great outrage. Mr Speaker, we have fought long and hard, Mr Speaker, to get where are today and we are not going to turn back.”

Legislator and At-Large Representative, Hon Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL) has called out Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert on his insensitive comments about reparations for slavery and names of landmarks after perpetrators of slavery.

‘Governor must apologise’ – social commentators

Championing the calls for an apology is ‘Honestly Speaking’ radio host, Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline, who noted, “We are calling for, and will continue every time we get on this programme, an apology on behalf of his belittling and desecrating our ancestors, their blood, their sweat, their tears and ultimately their death.”

Several community members including Former educator, Mr Elroy A. Turnbull and social commentator Mr Kenneth G. Gladstone have spoken out against the statements, calling it both derogatory and insulting.