At the conclusion of a week-long summit in Samoa, Commonwealth leaders expressed that it was time for a discussion regarding whether Britain should commit to reparations for its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, held in the Pacific Islands nation, focused on topics such as slavery and the threat of climate change involving representatives from 56 countries, many of which have historical ties to the British Empire.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose country has historically opposed calls for financial compensation to nations impacted by slavery, emphasized that the discussions at the summit were not centered on monetary concerns. The leaders issued a joint statement agreeing that the time had come for a meaningful, truthful, and respectful conversation aimed at building a common future rooted in equity.
Globally, there has been an increasing drive, especially from the Caribbean Community and the African Union, for former colonial powers like Britain to provide reparations or other forms of amends for the legacy of slavery. The joint statement also addressed “blackbirding,” referring to the practice of deceiving, coercing, or kidnapping individuals from regions such as the Pacific Islands to work on plantations in Australia and elsewhere.
While there are those who oppose reparations, arguing that present-day countries should not be accountable for historical misdeeds, proponents argue that slavery’s legacy has resulted in significant and ongoing racial inequality. The joint statement did not specify what form reparations might take.
During a press conference, Starmer clarified that the joint statement acknowledged the calls for discussion and agreed that now is the time for conversation. He reiterated that none of the discussions over the two days had focused on financial matters.
Professor Kingsley Abbott, director of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London, described the joint statement as indicative of a potentially significant breakthrough on the issue, noting that the commitment to dialogues on reparative justice opens the door for further talks.
The statement also conveyed concerns regarding the severe effects of the climate crisis, such as rising temperatures and sea levels, which are particularly threatening to over half of the Commonwealth’s members, many of whom are small, low-lying island nations.
In other developments, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey was selected as the Commonwealth’s new secretary-general, succeeding Britain’s Patricia Scotland. Botchwey, an advocate for reparations for transatlantic slavery and colonialism, assumes the role previously held by Scotland since 2016.
During the summit, attended by King Charles and Queen Camilla, the monarch acknowledged the “painful” history of the Commonwealth. Before departing, the royal couple participated in a farewell ceremony amid heavy rain in the village of Siumu. In his speech at the summit, King Charles emphasized the importance of understanding history to guide future decisions.
The king and queen’s engagement in Samoa concluded a six-day visit to Australia, which included a large public turnout at the Sydney Opera House and meetings with Indigenous elders in Sydney, subsequent to an encounter with an Indigenous senator in Canberra.
