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Greetings and Rastafari Blessings Ras Marcus,
It was the I that specifically mentioned Rastafari people and questioned their integrity to deal with the Reparations issue. The I didn't say African people, or Pan Africanists, the I said Rastafari people. And the I wouldn't just start a reasoning in a vacuum, so, though the I didn't name names, the I had something in mind. And given that another Rastafari Elder has specifically called into question the Bicenntennial Global Dialogue on this forum and others, there is a suggestion then about the Rastafari participation in Barbados.
The coconut didn't hit I& I head, but as I watched the coconut fall, I saw the need to clarify for the benefit of the Rastafari Nation, what is really going on here.
Now, In I Rasponse to the I, I said "some Elders", using generalities and not naming names just like the I did in the I post. And to prove that nothing is being done in secret, the only names I did mention are those Rastafari people who are part of the Barbados program so that ones and ones could know who it is WORKING on their behalf.
Truly Ras Marcus, I would much rather reason with the I on the issues that really matter. If the I is concerned about how Reparaitons money (which hasn't even been secured yet) will be spent, why not reason with I on that question: How should Reparations money made available to I&I be spent? Let's go into the details in hopes of coming up with a solution, an answer, that would ensure further advances toward African Liberation.
For example, I&I know that Reparations money would have to be structured in such a way so that money represents increased capital inflow INTO Africa. So the receipients of the initial disbursements should be resident in Africa.
Second, in order to maximize Reparations payments, they should be structured/disbursed in such a way so that they circulate five, six, seven times WITHIN Africa, before any such monies leave or are taken out of Africa.
Thirdly, such payments can not be paid to governments, which are corrupt and responsible of robbing African people to the tune of US$64 Billion a year.
Thus, any such payments would have to be made to the people themselves.
However, not everyone is sufficiently knowledgeable about how to best utilize such funds, so a search would have to be done to see who is already utilizing African resources to get good works done. It is these people that should be given the Reparations resources with no strings attatched.
So this is what I&I have done. Identified Rastafari people on the continent, especially in Ethiopia, Ghana and South Africa, and documented what they have been able to achieve on their own initiative. Then, I&I have selected those projects which would directly impact on the effective Repatriation of of a specific number of people that I&I already have the capacity to house and employ. So, though I&I proposal is limited, it is based upon effective Rastafari best practices. Without going into detail, the proposal will provide three months preparation in Repatriation Staging Areas, transportation, housing and food for a year, upfront capital to the Rastafari owners of the housing units to expand their operations in preparatin for year two and increased Repatriates following the success of year one, and a logical plan for community development in specificly created "Rastafari villages." The whole program is replicable every year and if successfully implemented, will not depend on continued Reparations payments.
So you see, I am interested in having a real, intelligent reasoning about the Reparations negotiations and Repatriation, not the current crap that is being posted.
Hoping that I&I will rise to the occasion. If the I want to make a positive contribution, show I&I in specific detail how Reparations payments should/could be structured so that if the I can not come to Barbados, the Rastafari people who will be there can make sure that they get it right.
Most Raspectfully,
Ras Nathaniel
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