As Commonwealth leaders gather in Samoa, the call for justice regarding colonialism, slavery, and the increasing impact of climate change is intensifying. Campaigners, lawmakers, and representatives from Caribbean and African nations are urging the UK government to consider reparatory justice.
In a striking report last year, UN judge Patrick Robinson estimated that the UK owes over £18 trillion in reparations for its historical role in slavery across 14 countries. However, Downing Street has made it clear that reparations will not be discussed during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Labour leader Keir Starmer expressed a desire to focus on moving forward instead of engaging in lengthy discussions about historical reparations.
Campaigners emphasize that many Commonwealth nations are still dealing with the generational consequences of crimes against humanity, compounded by a modern debt system favoring Western interests and exacerbated by climate-related disasters, often linked to the carbon emissions of affluent countries. The push for reparations transcends the Commonwealth; the African Union and the Caribbean Community (Caricom) have united in their efforts to hold former colonial powers accountable.
Organizations in the UK, including the Guardian, the Bank of England, and the Church of England, have issued apologies for their connections to slavery, but the government has yet to follow suit. King Charles, addressing Commonwealth nations in 2022, spoke about the need to “acknowledge our past,” referring to slavery as an “appalling atrocity,” but he has not offered a formal apology.
Experts and activists weigh in on why reparations encompass more than just financial compensation and share their visions of what reparations should entail.
Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP, who leads the parliamentary group focused on African reparations, likens the Commonwealth to an unequal family. She advocates for addressing issues like debt relief, climate resilience, and the return of cultural artifacts. “An apology is free,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging historical injustices, particularly in the face of worsening climate conditions in Caribbean and small island states. She criticized the current reliance on aid, which often comes with strings attached, claiming that it merely maintains the status quo of poverty instead of fostering genuine reparative justice.
Washington Alcott, a reparations activist from Manchester, calls for initiatives that enhance skills and employment opportunities in affected regions. “In Jamaica, many people are starting their own businesses but require training in packaging and marketing to compete internationally,” he explained. Alcott argues that reparations should also address the long-term economic damage inflicted by colonialism and its legacy through systems of neocolonial debt.
Clive Baldwin, a senior legal advisor at Human Rights Watch, argues that reparations must engage directly with affected communities rather than be confined to intergovernmental discussions. He highlighted the recent UK agreement to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, which includes a right of return for the Chagossian people, reflecting an acknowledgment of past wrongs.
Clive Lewis MP, who hosts the Heirs of Enslavement podcast, stresses that without addressing the root causes of structural racism through formal apologies, efforts to create a fairer Britain for Black individuals may come off as mere rhetoric. He believes the UK’s reparations framework should align with the 10-point plan put forth by Caricom, which advocates for an official apology and debt cancellation.
Irish billionaire Denis O’Brien has proposed that reparations frameworks for Caribbean nations could draw inspiration from the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund, which aims to reduce inequalities within Europe. He envisions a collaboration with the University of the West Indies to finance social and development projects in 15 Caribbean countries based on the Caricom model, spreading the funding over 25 years.
Michelle Charters, head of the International Slavery Museum, argues for a comprehensive approach to reparations that includes financial, educational, cultural, and technological elements to honor those affected by the legacies of transatlantic slavery. She cautions against assigning a monetary value to human life and suffering, as this commodification was central to the dehumanizing nature of slavery.
Ngozi Fulani, founder of the domestic abuse charity Sistah Space, pointed out that government reluctance to accept responsibility stems from a fear of the financial implications. “When engaging with those who know they bear guilt but refuse to listen, it indicates we have a long fight ahead,” she declared. “We won’t cease our struggle for reparations.”
