AT the just-ended Commonwealth summit in Samoa, 56 leaders, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, agreed that ‘the time has come’ for a meaningful conversation on reparations for the transatlantic slave trade. Despite the UK’s prior stance against including reparations on the agenda, the final joint statement acknowledges calls for ‘reparatory justice’ and endorses a ‘truthful and respectful conversation’ on the matter.
While the summit’s communique marks a step forward for reparations advocates, Sir Keir stated there were no financial commitments discussed, and the UK maintains its position against reparatory payments. ‘The main themes of our discussions were resilience and climate,’ Starmer said, downplaying the emphasis on reparations and noting the topic was ‘one paragraph in a much larger document.’
Mixed reactions from Commonwealth members
Some Commonwealth leaders and diplomats, particularly those from the Caribbean, see the summit’s communique as a positive step, continuing the conversation on reparations despite the lack of specific commitments. Frederick Mitchell, Bahamas’ foreign minister, expressed hope that the UK would eventually offer financial reparations, noting the issue could be revisited at the upcoming UK-Caribbean forum scheduled for March in London. ‘Behind the language is an attempt to go in a particular direction,’ he told BBC Radio 4.
A historic debate
Calls for reparations and formal apologies for the UK’s role in the slave trade have intensified in recent years. A UN judge previously estimated that the UK’s financial responsibility could exceed £18 trillion. Reparatory justice, as discussed by Commonwealth leaders, could take various forms, from educational initiatives and public health assistance to formal apologies.
Though the UK’s stance remains firm, the summit’s communique signals that the Commonwealth is willing to discuss the topic further. Diplomats expect reparations to be a significant focus at the next Commonwealth summit in two years. For now, both sides view the communique as a platform for keeping the conversation alive on an issue that continues to shape international relationships across the Commonwealth.
Credit: BBC Radio 4
