The descendants of former British Prime Minister William Gladstone, on Friday (August 26) apologised for their family’s slaveholding past in Guyana amid calls to pay reparations to Jamaica for an ancestor’s role in slavery.

Gladstone’s father, John, was said to be one of the largest slaveholders in the parts of the Caribbean that were colonised by the British, as per AFP.&nbsp;

According to a University of London Legacies of British Slavery database, John Gladstone owned or held mortgages of more than 2,508 enslaved Africans in Guyana and Jamaica in the 19th Century.

<h2>Apology in Guyana</h2>

Speaking at the launch of the University of Guyana’s International Centre for the Study of Migration and Diaspora, Charles Gladstone, William’s great-great grandson said, “Slavery was a crime against humanity and its damaging impact continues to be felt across the world today.”

“It is with deep shame and regret that we acknowledge our ancestor’s involvement in this crime and with heartfelt sincerity that we apologise to the descendants of the enslaved in Guyana,” he added.&nbsp;

He also “urged other descendants of those who benefited from slavery to open conversations about their ancestors' crimes and what they might be able to do to build a better future.” The Gladstone family also apologised for their role in indentureship.

This comes as John Gladstone is also believed to have owned two ships that transported thousands from India and elsewhere to work as ‘indentured labourers’ after slavery was abolished in 1834.&nbsp;

Charles Gladstone, in Guyana, also vowed to support the work of the new university department and called on the United Kingdom to hold talks with the 15-nation Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on reparations.&nbsp;

<h2>‘Unacceptable’</h2>

The Gladstone apology was met with a strong rebuke from multiple Guyanese descendants of African slaves present at the university. “It is not accepted,” said one of the protesters in the lecture hall.&nbsp;

They also held placards that read, “Your guilt is real Charlie. Move quickly to reparations now,” as per AFP, while another read “The Gladstones are murderers.”&nbsp;

An Afro-Guyanese activist Nicole Cole told the news agency how the apology was insufficient but acknowledged that it was a step towards “recognizing that a crime was committed and that people's lives have been disrupted.”

A member of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, Eric Phillips said that research showed that the British owe the descendants of Africans in Guyana more than $1.2 trillion.&nbsp;

<h2>What about slavery reparations to Jamaica?</h2>

During the apology in Guyana, there was no mention of John Gladstone’s slave ownership in Jamaica nor did the family speak about its intention to apologise or make donations.&nbsp;

Recently, the Gladstones have also faced accusations and criticism for failing to acknowledge the case for paying slavery reparations in Jamaica.

However, the family told the BBC, “At the moment we are solely focused on Guyana.” They added, “There is a huge amount to do here (in Guyana).”&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
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The descendants of former British Prime Minister William Gladstone, on Friday (August 26) apologised for their family’s slaveholding past in Guyana amid calls to pay reparations to Jamaica for an ancestor’s role in slavery.

The descendants of former British Prime Minister William Gladstone, on Friday (August 26) apologised for their family’s slaveholding past in Guyana amid calls to pay reparations to Jamaica for an ancestor’s role in slavery. Gladstone’s father, John, was said to be one of the largest slaveholders in the parts of the Caribbean that were colonised by the British, as per AFP. According to a University of London Legacies of British Slavery database, John Gladstone owned or held mortgages of more than 2,508 enslaved Africans in Guyana and Jamaica in the 19th Century. Apology in Guyana Speaking at the launch of the University of Guyana’s International Centre for the Study of Migration and Diaspora, Charles Gladstone, William’s great-great grandson said, “Slavery was a crime against humanity and its damaging impact continues to be felt across the world today.” “It is with deep shame and regret that we acknowledge our ancestor’s involvement in this crime and with heartfelt sincerity that we apologise to the descendants of the enslaved in Guyana,” he added. He also “urged other descendants of those who benefited from slavery to open conversations about their ancestors' crimes and what they might be able to do to build a better future.” The Gladstone family also apologised for their role in indentureship. This comes as John Gladstone is also believed to have owned two ships that transported thousands from India and elsewhere to work as ‘indentured labourers’ after slavery was abolished in 1834. Charles Gladstone, in Guyana, also vowed to support the work of the new university department and called on the United Kingdom to hold talks with the 15-nation Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on reparations. ‘Unacceptable’ The Gladstone apology was met with a strong rebuke from multiple Guyanese descendants of African slaves present at the university. “It is not accepted,” said one of the protesters in the lecture hall. They also held placards that read, “Your guilt is real Charlie. Move quickly to reparations now,” as per AFP, while another read “The Gladstones are murderers.” An Afro-Guyanese activist Nicole Cole told the news agency how the apology was insufficient but acknowledged that it was a step towards “recognizing that a crime was committed and that people's lives have been disrupted.” A member of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, Eric Phillips said that research showed that the British owe the descendants of Africans in Guyana more than $1.2 trillion. What about slavery reparations to Jamaica? During the apology in Guyana, there was no mention of John Gladstone’s slave ownership in Jamaica nor did the family speak about its intention to apologise or make donations. Recently, the Gladstones have also faced accusations and criticism for failing to acknowledge the case for paying slavery reparations in Jamaica. However, the family told the BBC, “At the moment we are solely focused on Guyana.” They added, “There is a huge amount to do here (in Guyana).” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Family of former British PM William Gladstone apologises for slave-owning past

From citizenship festivities to protests: Australia marks National Day

Union Budget, also known as the annual financial statement, is a comprehensive display of the Government&#39;s financial outlays and planning -- an event of great economic significance.

Every year the Union Budget is presented by the Finance Minister of the country and is required to be passed by both the Houses to come into effect.

As this year&rsquo;s Budget presentation nears, we take a look at some of the top facts associated with the event.&nbsp;

Change in time of presenting budget

During the colonial era, the finance minister would present the budget on the last working day of February at noon and India would follow the same at 11:00 pm. The practice continued until it was scrapped by former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha in the year 2001. That year the budget was tabled at 11:00 am.

Even the date of presenting the budget was moved to February 1 by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in 2016 with an aim to bring the new budget into effect by the start of the financial year.

The coming together of rail and union budget

The year 2016 was a landmark one in a sense that another practice was modified to merge the presentation of the union budget with the rail budget. Previously, the railway budget was tabled separately, a practice that followed right from the colonial era.

Leaving another colonial-era practice behind in September 2016, the cabinet decided to merge the rail budget with the union budget, as suggested by then Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu.

The post-independence budget

The first budget of an independent India was presented by India&rsquo;s first finance minister RK Shanmukham Chetty on November 26, 1947. It is believed that RK Shanmukham was chosen as the finance minister by Mahatma Gandhi because of his expertise in the finance.

The first colonial budget

The first budget of colonial India was presented by James Wilson on February 18, 1869.

Wilson was designated as the Finance Member of the India Council that advised the Indian Viceroy.

Maximum number of budget presentations by a finance minister

Morarji Desai, the 4th Prime Minister of India, is known to have tabled the budget 10 times -- the most by any Indian finance minister.

Desai was the only finance minister to have presented the budget on his birthday, February 29.

The first woman finance minister

After Morarji Desai&rsquo;s resignation as the finance minister, Indira Gandhi took over on July 19, 1969 to become the first and the only woman to hold office&nbsp;as finance minister till date.

Halwa ceremony

The printing of the budget starts roughly a week ahead of its presentation in the parliament. The &quot;Halwa ceremony&quot; is a tradition that marks the beginning of the exercises associated with the presentation of the budget.

In the customary tradition, Halwa is made in large quantity and offered to the officers and staff involved in the budget presentation.

The ceremony symbolises the age-old Indian tradition of consuming something sweet right before commencing a new venture or project.

The change in financial year

The government is also considering changing the term of the financial year to bring it in sync with the calendar year. This would enable aligning India with most countries besides institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

The change would bring about significant changes in the union budget presentation as well.

However, the government is yet to take a final call on the same.

This year&rsquo;s budget is slated to be presented by the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on February 1. PM Modi has already hinted at the possibility that this year&rsquo;s budget will be non-populist in nature.

Every year the Union Budget is presented by the Finance Minister of the country and is required to be passed by both the Houses to come into effect

Union Budget, also known as the annual financial statement, is a comprehensive display of the Government's financial outlays and planning -- an event of great economic significance. Every year the Union Budget is presented by the Finance Minister of the country and is required to be passed by both the Houses to come into effect. As this year’s Budget presentation nears, we take a look at some of the top facts associated with the event. Change in time of presenting budget During the colonial era, the finance minister would present the budget on the last working day of February at noon and India would follow the same at 11:00 pm. The practice continued until it was scrapped by former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha in the year 2001. That year the budget was tabled at 11:00 am. Even the date of presenting the budget was moved to February 1 by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in 2016 with an aim to bring the new budget into effect by the start of the financial year. The coming together of rail and union budget The year 2016 was a landmark one in a sense that another practice was modified to merge the presentation of the union budget with the rail budget. Previously, the railway budget was tabled separately, a practice that followed right from the colonial era. Leaving another colonial-era practice behind in September 2016, the cabinet decided to merge the rail budget with the union budget, as suggested by then Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. The post-independence budget The first budget of an independent India was presented by India’s first finance minister RK Shanmukham Chetty on November 26, 1947. It is believed that RK Shanmukham was chosen as the finance minister by Mahatma Gandhi because of his expertise in the finance. The first colonial budget The first budget of colonial India was presented by James Wilson on February 18, 1869. Wilson was designated as the Finance Member of the India Council that advised the Indian Viceroy. Maximum number of budget presentations by a finance minister Morarji Desai, the 4th Prime Minister of India, is known to have tabled the budget 10 times -- the most by any Indian finance minister. Desai was the only finance minister to have presented the budget on his birthday, February 29. The first woman finance minister After Morarji Desai’s resignation as the finance minister, Indira Gandhi took over on July 19, 1969 to become the first and the only woman to hold office as finance minister till date. Halwa ceremony The printing of the budget starts roughly a week ahead of its presentation in the parliament. The "Halwa ceremony" is a tradition that marks the beginning of the exercises associated with the presentation of the budget. In the customary tradition, Halwa is made in large quantity and offered to the officers and staff involved in the budget presentation. The ceremony symbolises the age-old Indian tradition of consuming something sweet right before commencing a new venture or project. The change in financial year The government is also considering changing the term of the financial year to bring it in sync with the calendar year. This would enable aligning India with most countries besides institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The change would bring about significant changes in the union budget presentation as well. However, the government is yet to take a final call on the same. This year’s budget is slated to be presented by the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on February 1. PM Modi has already hinted at the possibility that this year’s budget will be non-populist in nature.

Interesting facts about the Union budget