During a recent Commonwealth summit in Samoa, UK leader Keir Starmer faced significant pressure from Caribbean nations to engage in a serious dialogue about Britain’s historical role in the transatlantic slave trade. While Starmer opened the discussion to the possibility of non-financial reparations, Downing Street maintains that financial reparations and formal apologies are not on the table.
As Commonwealth leaders emphasized the need for a “meaningful, truthful, and respectful” examination of the past, Caribbean countries have expressed frustration over the UK’s ongoing reluctance to begin discussions on reparations. A source from Downing Street acknowledged that while direct payments or apologies are not being considered, the UK might support initiatives like restructuring financial institutions and providing debt relief, which aligns with broader reparative justice measures.
“There is a growing consensus that these multilateral institutions often place burdensome interest rates on loans to developing nations,” the source noted. This reform effort, they argued, would not impose additional costs on UK taxpayers.
Proposals for restorative justice have also included items like educational programs, cultural institution establishment, and enhanced economic and public health support, but Downing Street has firmly ruled out any immediate apologies. During an interview with the BBC, Starmer remarked, “We must acknowledge that the slave trade was abhorrent. We can’t change our history, but we certainly should talk about it.”
When pressed about whether the UK should apologize or offer reparations, Starmer pointed out that past apologies had already been made regarding the slave trade. He emphasized that Commonwealth countries are more interested in discussing future challenges such as climate finance and international trade.
Responding to Starmer’s comments, Ralph Gonsalves, the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, highlighted the crucial need for a reparative justice plan that addresses the ongoing psychological and socioeconomic impacts of slavery. He criticized the historical lack of compensation for enslaved individuals, lamenting that while enslavers received vast sums at the time of abolition, nothing was provided to those who were oppressed.
“Nothing was offered to help them start anew,” he stressed, pointing out the continued legacy of this injustice that affects Caribbean nations today.
Similarly, Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis called for the Commonwealth to pursue “justice” regarding the grim legacy of slavery and urged King Charles to engage on the matter during the summit.
A draft of the summit’s communique, as reported by the BBC, indicates intentionality in addressing reparatory justice related to the transatlantic slave trade, asserting the need for respectful dialogue about shared historical experiences among Commonwealth nations.
Frederick Mitchell, the Bahamas’ Foreign Minister, mentioned ongoing discussions about including references to reparatory justice in the communique, suggesting that there should be an acknowledgment of the demand for reparations.
Despite some criticisms within the Labour Party about Downing Street’s focus on future issues over historical ones, prominent voices like Harriet Harman argue that the past is integral to understanding and building future relationships.
Meanwhile, Sir Hilary Beckles, a leading Caribbean historian, pointed out that the growing international momentum for reparations reflects a recognition of the profound injustices faced by enslaved people and their descendants.
As Starmer attended the summit in Apia, he was keen to avoid controversies surrounding reparations, especially in light of several Commonwealth leaders opting to attend a competing event in Moscow. Reactions from the opposition suggest that even the mere initiation of discussions on reparations might provoke backlash from Conservative critics and more conservative elements of the media.
