The BBC has learned that Commonwealth heads of government are preparing to defy the United Kingdom and agree on plans to explore reparatory justice for the transatlantic slave trade. Downing Street insists that this issue is not on the agenda for the upcoming summit of 56 Commonwealth countries in Samoa. However, diplomatic sources reveal that officials are in negotiations to conduct further research and initiate a “meaningful conversation” on the matter, potentially leading to the UK owing billions in reparations.
The draft summit communique, as disclosed to the BBC, acknowledges the calls for discussions on reparatory justice concerning the transatlantic slave trade and enslavement. It emphasizes the need for a meaningful, truthful, and respectful conversation to pave the way for a common future based on equity. The document also highlights the commitment of Commonwealth heads of government to facilitate more research on the transatlantic slave trade and chattel slavery.
Reparatory justice for slavery could take various forms, including financial reparations, debt relief, official apologies, educational programs, museum construction, economic support, and public health assistance. Officials from Caricom seek to expand the issue to encompass both the Atlantic and Pacific slave trades.
The expectation is that reparatory justice will be a central focus at the next Commonwealth summit in two years, possibly in Antigua and Barbuda. Ahead of the current summit, there have been increasing demands from Commonwealth leaders for the UK to apologize and provide reparations totaling trillions of pounds for its historical involvement in the slave trade.
The UK government has not officially commented on the leak but reiterated its position that reparations are not on the agenda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. While technically correct, this stance has sparked discontent among Caribbean ministers who anticipated discussions on the matter at the summit.
Sir Keir Starmer, the first sitting UK prime minister to visit a Pacific island nation, aims to address current challenges like climate change with Commonwealth leaders, prioritizing future-facing issues over prolonged discussions on reparations for the past.
King Charles, who arrived in Samoa for a four-day visit, is scheduled to formally open the summit. During a previous visit to Kenya, he expressed deep regret over the wrongdoings of the colonial era but did not issue an official apology, which would have required ministerial agreement. Algunos países no caribeños no son antipáticos hacia la posición británica y quieren que la cumbre se enfoque más en los desafíos existentes, como el cambio climático, que está afectando negativamente a muchos países de la Mancomunidad, alrededor de la mitad de los cuales son pequeños estados insulares. Pero los países caribeños parecen determinados a seguir presionando el tema. Los tres candidatos que esperan ser elegidos este fin de semana como el próximo secretario general de la Mancomunidad – Shirley Botchwey de Ghana, Joshua Setipa de Lesotho y Mamadou Tangara de Gambia – han dejado claro que apoyan la justicia reparatoria.