As 56 Commonwealth leaders converge in Samoa for the biennial Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), one issue has risen to the forefront: slavery reparations. Caribbean nations, long advocating for restorative justice, have drawn up an agreement demanding billions from the United Kingdom – a move that could redefine the summit’s agenda and the Commonwealth’s future.
The Push for Reparations
Despite British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s efforts to keep reparations off the table, Caribbean leaders have been resolute. They insist on “frank” and “meaningful” conversations about the enduring impacts of transatlantic slavery on the African diaspora. As one source close to the negotiations put it, “This isn’t about getting stuck in the past. It’s about acknowledging that the past is still very much present.”
Estimates for what Britain owes in reparations range from £200 billion to a staggering £18 trillion. While Starmer has pivoted slightly, saying he is “open to discussing non-cash forms of reparatory justice,” Caribbean leaders remain unmoved. For them, this is about more than a symbolic apology – it’s about tangible action to address the social, economic, and psychological scars left by centuries of slavery.
A 10-Point Plan for Justice
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), representing 21 nations across the region, has long championed a 10-point plan for reparatory justice. This comprehensive approach goes beyond monetary compensation, calling for:
- A full formal apology
- Illiteracy eradication programs
- Public health crisis alleviation
- Debt cancellation
- Technology transfer
As the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Philip Davis, eloquently stated, “The ghost that haunts us today cannot be, in my view, dispelled by a monetary gift.” For these nations, reparations are about forging a more equitable future by genuinely addressing the injustices of the past.
The Commonwealth’s Crossroads
The reparations debate has put the Commonwealth at a crossroads. Will it be a space for tough but necessary conversations, or will it shy away from the shadows of its shared history? Caribbean leaders had hoped for a more open-minded approach from Britain’s new Labour government, especially given Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s past support for reparations.
“Caribbean governments are very clear. They are going to be stepping up this campaign. They feel that they have a legal and moral justification to do so.”
– A CHOGM attendee familiar with the discussions
As leaders head into closed-door retreats to tackle the summit’s most challenging issues, the world watches. Will the Commonwealth live up to its name – a voluntary association of equal partners – or will it falter in the face of its most pivotal test? The answers could reshape not just the organization, but the very notion of post-colonial justice in the 21st century.
One thing is certain: the call for reparations will not fade away. As Frederick Mitchell, the Bahamas’ foreign minister, boldly declared, it is “only a matter of time” before Britain changes its stance. The ghosts of slavery may be centuries old, but for the nations still grappling with its aftermath, the reckoning has only just begun.
