The Commonwealth summit, involving more than 50 former British colonies around the globe, ended over the weekend in the Pacific island nation of Samoa, with the Caribbean delegations being somewhat pleased that they had helped to force the British to agree to formally discuss reparations for the transAtlantic slave trade.
The region — comprising about a dozen independent nations, along with African powerhouses like Nigeria and Ghana, as well as Pacific nations with links to slavery — had held a strong unified position, demanding that Britain own up to the horrors of slavery and be prepared to not only apologize for its role, but also shell out monetary compensation and consider debt write-offs at future forums.
A document signed by the heads or delegation leaders of the 56 nations indicated that “the time has come” for Britain to engage in dialogue about reparations, noting the need for “discussions on reparatory justice” for a system of human abuse it described as “abhorrent.” The document also said that it is time for “meaningful, truthful, and respectful conversation towards forging a common future based on equity.”
Related: Caricom leaders and UK on collision course over reparations
Even before last week’s summit in the Pacific, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) nations had fired some tough political salvos, warning that Britain must no longer be allowed to escape from facing up to its genocidal role in the sale trade in more than a dozen countries. Prime Minister Keir Starmer had refused to acknowledge that the issue would have been one of the dominant topics at the summit. Instead, he told reporters that the grouping had enjoyed a “positive two days” and that the climate change issue had been the main topic of discussions.
“The dominant theme of the two days has been resilience and climate,” Starmer said, pointing to references to reparations amounting to only one paragraph of more than 20. “None of the discussions have been about money. Our position is very, very clear in relation to that.”
The Caribbean had been demanding a formal summit with Europe to discuss slavery, but strong resistance had come from France and Portugal in particular. Regional officials have said that the Netherlands appeared to be the most open to dialogue, had even apologized for its role in slavery two years ago, and has said it is willing to engage in future talks about almost any topic. That was back in December 2022.
Meanwhile, Starmer said a planned Caribbean-UK forum in March next year might well be the next best opportunity to push ahead on the issue, even as the region has already engaged a British law firm to prosecute its case. The prognosis is that the region should go ahead because the case is a legal “slam dunk.”
Before the summit, Caricom Chair and Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell had said the grouping was determined to fight its case. “Our position on the matter is clear. Reparations and reparatory justice is an issue we are, and will champion, whether the British chooses to acknowledge it or not. This is not merely about paying or payment. The Caricom 10-point action plan makes it clear that we are dealing with and seeking acknowledgment of the horrors of the Atlantic slave trade; the enslavement of Blacks and persons of African descent in the Caribbean; the plantation and colonization economy that dehumanized, marginalized, and impoverished Blacks and persons of African descent. We are seeking partnership in dealing with these atrocities and the consequences of the atrocities from those nations [that] committed those acts.”
Colleague Mia Mottley of Barbados had told an international forum recently that Britain’s bill to the Caribbean amounts to just under $5 trillion.
