Ambassador Dorbrene O’Marde, Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Support Commission (ABRSC), has been selected to represent Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) at the upcoming Africa Celebrates 2025 event in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from November 4–9. Ambassador O’Marde will serve as a featured speaker and panelist at the Africa Reparation Forum and Diaspora Africa Konnect, both hosted at the African Union and United Nations headquarters in the Ethiopian capital. The event’s theme, aligned with the African Union’s agenda, is “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through and Beyond Reparations.” The forum will delve into the socio-economic implications of reparatory justice and discuss strategies for leveraging diaspora resources to foster investment, heritage preservation, and sustainable economic growth across Africa and the Caribbean. In their invitation, organizers lauded Ambassador O’Marde’s leadership as Chairperson of the ABRSC and Vice-Chair of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, emphasizing his critical role in sharing insights on reparations as a catalyst for development and unity among people of African descent. Africa Celebrates aims to promote cultural exchange, trade, and innovation within Africa and its diaspora. Its objectives include showcasing Africa’s cultural and creative diversity, encouraging the patronage of African-made goods, and advancing intra-African trade, investment, and tourism, with a particular focus on empowering women and youth. Since its inception in 2021, the event has grown exponentially, with participation increasing from 12 countries in its inaugural year to over 40 African nations and diaspora communities by 2024. Organizers anticipate that the 2025 edition will be the largest yet, featuring contributions from 13 countries and a diverse array of cultural, business, and academic leaders.
Ambassador Dorbrene O’Marde to Represent Antigua and Barbuda and CARICOM at Africa Celebrates 2025
