Commonwealth leaders say it is time to discuss reparations
Commonwealth leaders have agreed that “the time has come” to discuss reparations for the slave trade, despite the UK’s desire to take the subject off the agenda at two-day summit in Samoa.
A document signed by 56 heads of government, including British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, acknowledges the call to “discuss reparative justice” for the transatlantic slave trade. hideous”.
The statement said it was time to have a “meaningful, honest and respectful conversation”.
Sir Keir said there was no discussion of money at the meeting and the UK was “very clear” in its position that it would not pay compensation.
The UK has faced growing calls from Commonwealth leaders to apologize and make reparations for the country’s historic role in the slave trade.
Reparations for the benefit of those who suffered as a result of slavery can take many forms, from financial to symbolic.
Ahead of the summit, Downing Street confirmed the issue would not be on the agenda.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Sir Keir said Commonwealth leaders had had a “positive two days” in Samoa and downplayed the importance of reparations at the summit.
“The dominant theme of the two days was resilience and climate,” he said, adding that the section of the joint statement discussing reparations comprised “one paragraph out of about 20.” .
“There was no discussion about money,” he said. Our position is very, very clear on that issue.”
Last week, Prime Minister Rachel Reeves told the BBC The UK will not pay reparations for slavery.
Before the announcement was made, the leaders’ caucus – where commonwealth prime ministers and presidents meet without advisers – went on for around six hours.
The Prime Minister said it was not the compensation discussion that caused the negotiations to drag on so long.
A Downing Street source told the BBC: “We have made our position clear and that position will not change.”
And they have and they haven’t – in fact, the direct nature of their comments on reparations on the way to the summit has upset some countries campaigning on that issue.
Half the art of diplomacy is keeping what you want to talk about – continuing the conversation, even when change is unlikely.
For those who think it is time for countries like the UK to face up to their past, the communiqué allows them to say that the conversation continues.
As for the UK and others, they can say their views have not changed and also point to a range of other topics – such as trade, climate change and security – on which they think The Commonwealth provides an important forum.
However, the prime minister appeared to leave open the possibility of further discussion on some form of reparative justice, saying the “next opportunity to consider this issue” would be at the UK-Caribbean forum.
Frederick Mitchell, the Bahamian Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the leaders hope to issue a “comprehensive report” on the issue at that forum, to be held in London next March.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that he expected the UK to eventually pay financial reparations to Caribbean countries.
Challenged on whether the wording in the joint statement was too vague, he said: “Behind the language is an attempt to move in a particular direction.”
Diplomats say they expect reparative justice to be central to the agenda of the next Commonwealth summit in two years’ time.
Last year, a United Nations judge said the UK could owe more than £18 trillion in compensation for its role in slavery in 14 Caribbean countries.
But reparative justice can also take the form of official apologies, educational programs or public health support.
