Paul Reichmann,
241 Strathalian Wood Boulevard
Toronto,
Ontario,
Canada
M5N 1T5
27/2/00
cc George Iacobescu (Canary Wharf), Peter Anderson (Canary Wharf), Gerald Rothman (Canary Wharf), Councillor Kumar Murshid, Councillor Catherine Tuitt, Councillor Martin Young, Jim Fitzpatrick MP, Bernie Grant MP, Tony Blair MP, Ted Johns (AIC), Mayday2K list, www.J12.org
Re: Celebration of Slavery
Dear Mr Reichmann,
I am writing to you in your capacity as Chairman of Canary Wharf following a recent meeting of the Association of Island Communities (AIC). Peter Wade, who I understand is your Head of Public Affairs, represented you at this meeting. I was very disturbed by his behaviour at this meeting and would like clarification as to whether he was implementing Canary Wharf policy or allowing other concerns to influence how he acted.
He described how Canary Wharf security had been informed of a proposed protest to be held on Wednesday July 12th on the 200th anniversary of the laying of foundation stone of the West India Docks. He stated that this had appeared on an e-mail. He described that the issue had been taken up at Canary Wharf board meeting where you quite rightly considered making substantial changes to the whole event. He then detailed some attempts involve people from the Chinese and West Indian communities.
He then described how security arrangements had been made to seal off the area on that day, and then went on to describe how the protest would then focus on the celebrations planned for the Mudchute the following Sunday (July 16th). He then conjured up a lurid image of "rent-a-mob" descending on this event. This caused quite some consternation amongst some of the more excitable members of the AIC, who fuelled his fantasy by suggesting that vast numbers of dockers would be mobilised to defend the event.
Whilst I do indeed know about the proposed protest on July 12th (commonly known as J12), I was taken back by the bizarre suggestions which Mr Wade was presenting to the meeting as fact. I felt that I did not want to contribute to the discussion in such an inflamed environment.
I don't know whether you have seen my letter printed in the November issue of The Islander so I enclose a copy for you. I wrote this letter as long ago as 10/3/99, yet there has been no adequate response from either The Islander, the AIC (who regard The Islander as their mouthpiece) or even Canary Wharf. The letter was not published until the next issue came out in November 1999. The only 'response' was a remark attempting to minimalise the role of slave owners and traders in the enterprise (I shall not respond to that here). You made no use of the opportunity to deal with the issues raised even though you sponsored that issue of the paper and used a whole page to promote some of your Arts & Events.
What I find bizarre is that the only response you have made has been after I posted an e-mail on a discussion list about how to celebrate Mayday. And then that response has been completely inappropriate. I can only guess at Mr Wade's motives, but I am all to well aware of their effects. Rather than dealing with the issues raised in an open fashion, he has taken it upon himself to decide the time, venue and nature of the protest in order to discredit it. In my eyes he has only succeeded in discrediting himself and Canary Wharf, the organisation he represents.
I would be grateful if you would clarify Canary Wharf's position on these matters detailing what your policy is regarding your intervention in community affairs and how you ensure that your officers implement your policy. I would also request that you seriously reconsider the nature of the event you are planning for July 12th, not merely in the light of my objection as a local resident, but also in the light of the widespread concern that the wrongs of slavery have been glossed over and ignored.
Pressure is mounting for some sort of official apology for slavery and the vile legacy of racism which it has left embedded in British society. Yet you are proposing to erect a replica Hibbert Gate, a tribute to a prominent slave owner - for feathering his own nest by protecting the business interests of those involved in the exploitation of slave labour! In this context I am confident that many people will see any attempt by you to proceed with this as a Celebration of Slavery and will want to organise whatever protests they feel appropriate.
I await your response.
Yours sincerely,
Fabian Tompsett