Commonwealth leaders have agreed that “the time is right” to discuss reparations for the slave trade, despite Britain’s desire to keep the issue off the agenda at a two-day summit in Samoa.
The document, signed by 56 heads of government, including British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, acknowledges calls for a “debate on reparative justice” against the “abhorrent” transatlantic slave trade.
The statement said now is the time for “meaningful, truthful and respectful dialogue.”
Lord Keir said there was no discussion of money at the meeting and that Britain’s position was “very clear” that it would not pay reparations.
Commonwealth leaders are increasingly calling for Britain to apologize and pay reparations for its historic role in the slave trade.
Reparations for the benefit of those who suffered as a result of slavery can take many forms, from monetary to symbolic.
Ahead of the summit, Downing Street insisted the issue was not on the agenda.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Sir Keir downplayed the importance of reparations at the summit, saying Commonwealth leaders had spent “two positive days” in Samoa.
“The main themes of the two days were resilience and climate,” he said, adding that the part of the joint statement discussing reparations was “one of 20-odd paragraphs.”
“There was no discussion about money. Our position on this is very clear,” he said.
Last week, Prime Minister Rachel Reeves told the BBC that Britain would not pay reparations for slavery.
The summit, in which the federal chancellor and president met without advisers, lasted about six hours before the statement was issued.
The Prime Minister said talks over compensation were not the reason for so long.
A Downing Street source told the BBC: “We have made our position clear and that has not changed.”
Indeed, the direct nature of their remarks on reparations on the way to the summit irritated some countries campaigning on reparations.
Half the art of diplomacy is keeping things on the table, and keeping the conversation going even when the prospects for imminent change are low.
For those who think it’s time for countries like Britain to confront their past, this communiqué is a continuation of the conversation.
For countries such as the UK, they say their position has not changed, and they also mention a range of other issues, including trade, climate change and security, and argue that the Commonwealth provides an important forum. .
However, the prime minister appeared to leave the door open for further discussion on some form of reparative justice, saying the “next opportunity for consideration” would be at the Anglo-Caribbean forum.
Bahamian Foreign Minister Frederick Mitchell said leaders hoped to produce a “comprehensive report” on the issue at that forum in London next March.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that he expected Britain to eventually pay financial reparations to Caribbean countries.
Asked if the wording of the joint statement was too vague, he said: “Behind the wording is an attempt to move in a particular direction.”
Diplomats said they expected reparations justice to be at the center of the agenda at the next Commonwealth summit in two years’ time.
Last year, a United Nations judge said Britain likely owed more than £18 trillion in compensation for its role in slavery in 14 Caribbean countries.
However, reparative justice can also take the form of formal apologies, educational programs, and public health assistance.
