Commonwealth leaders are currently meeting in Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), where discussions have reignited calls for the UK to address its historical role in the transatlantic slave trade and consider reparations. Although the UK government has consistently opposed any reparations, the topic has surfaced again as leaders from member nations express their dissatisfaction with the lack of acknowledgment and action regarding the historical injustices.
The summit, which marks the first time it has been held in a Pacific Small Island Developing State (PSIDS), has attracted representatives from all 56 Commonwealth member countries. This year’s discussions primarily focus on climate change and gender equity, but the issue of reparations has not been formally included in the agenda. Despite this, Commonwealth leaders have indicated their intention to pursue discussions on reparative justice independently.
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A proposed section for the summit’s final communique, which would have explicitly addressed the issue of reparations, was vetoed by the UK. Instead, the final communique acknowledged the need for future discussions regarding “reparatory justice with regard to the trans-Atlantic trade in enslaved Africans,” but it fell short of any concrete commitments.
Historically, the UK played a significant role in the slave trade, beginning in the 16th century and becoming the leading slave-trading nation by the 18th century. Estimates suggest that British ships transported over three million enslaved Africans to the Americas. The legacy of this trade continues to affect Caribbean countries, according to leaders advocating for reparations, who argue that the ramifications of slavery have created enduring social and economic challenges.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking at the summit, reaffirmed the government’s stance against reparations, stating his preference to focus on current issues rather than historical grievances. He emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to tackle contemporary challenges like climate change instead of dwelling on the past. However, advocates for reparations maintain that the historical injustices of slavery require acknowledgment and remediation.
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During the summit, leaders from Caribbean nations reiterated the need for reparations, framing it as a matter of justice for the descendants of those affected by the slave trade. A 10-point reparations plan proposed by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) included elements such as formal apologies, debt cancellation, technology transfers, and public health assistance.
Despite the pressure from Commonwealth leaders, the UK government successfully blocked the inclusion of a specific reparations section in the final communique, leading to a more general acknowledgment of the need for future discussions. The final document mentioned the importance of engaging in “meaningful, truthful, and respectful conversations” to address historical injustices.
If the UK were to entertain the possibility of reparations, estimates suggest a staggering figure of $24 trillion, as detailed in a report by the Brattle Group, commissioned by The University of the West Indies. This report identified 14 Caribbean countries that would be eligible for reparations, including Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Other countries involved in the slave trade, like Portugal and the Netherlands, have similarly resisted calls for reparations, with some opting for apologies or setting up funds for social initiatives rather than direct compensation. The historical context of reparations highlights that past payments for slavery were made to slave owners rather than the enslaved individuals themselves.
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The UK’s historical compensation to slave owners in 1833, amounting to 20 million pounds, was meant to offset the perceived loss of property when slavery was abolished, illustrating the historical injustices that continue to resonate today.
As discussions unfold at the Commonwealth summit, it remains to be seen whether the UK will be compelled to reconsider its position on reparations or whether Commonwealth leaders will successfully advocate for a more thorough examination of the reparative justice owed to those affected by the legacy of slavery. The conversation around reparations is likely to persist as nations confront the lasting impacts of their colonial histories and seek equitable pathways for the future.
