Calls for Reparations for Britain's Slave Trade Highlight Ongoing Inequalities at Commonwealth Summit

A debate on reparations for Britain's involvement in the slave trade took centre stage at a Commonwealth summit in Samoa. Many member nations were once British colonies. Britain maintains it will not compensate for past wrongs. However, King Charles III and Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed the issue indirectly during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

"None of us can change the past but we can commit with all our hearts to learning its lessons and to finding creative ways to right the inequalities that endure," Charles said.

Britain's Historical Role in Slavery

Britain's involvement in the slave trade began in the mid-1500s, following Portugal and Spain. John Hawkins, a notable sailor, was a pioneer of the English slave trade triangle. Goods were exchanged in West Africa for enslaved people who were then sent across the Atlantic to work on British plantations in the Caribbean and Americas.The Royal African Company was established under King Charles II in 1672, with his brother Prince James, later King James II, managing it. This company had a monopoly on the slave trade, trafficking 80,000 Africans to the Americas. About 20,000 died during the journey before the monopoly ended in 1698.

Abolition and Compensation

An abolitionist movement emerged in England in the late 1700s, supported by Quakers, some politicians, and former slaves. The slave trade was outlawed in 1807, but Parliament did not emancipate slaves until 1833. "But it didn't go as planned," said Olivette Otele. Wealthy plantation owners pressured Parliament to compensate them for their 'loss of property.'The 1837 Compensation Act resulted in £20 million being paid to plantation owners. This sum was 40% of the national budget at that time. It took until 2015 for the Bank of England to settle this debt.

Current Reparations Debate

The call for reparations has been ongoing for decades. The UK has never formally apologised for its role in slavery. Studies suggest Britain might owe between hundreds of millions and trillions of dollars to descendants of slaves. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed deep sorrow in 2006 but did not offer an apology or compensation.In 2013, Caricom requested European governments formally apologise and create a repatriation programme for those wishing to return home. This has not occurred yet. Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis sought a "frank" discussion with Starmer about reparations at the Samoa event.

Efforts Towards Reparatory Justice

Some European countries and British institutions have started acknowledging their roles in slavery. The Church of England announced a £100 million fund last year for projects aimed at communities affected by historic slavery. A church advisory panel suggested increasing this to £1 billion.Descendants of slave traders have also made amends. A descendant of Scottish plantation owner John Gladstone apologised last year to Guyana for his ancestor's role as an absentee slave owner.Starmer initially wanted to avoid lengthy discussions on reparations at the Samoa summit but later acknowledged calls for reparatory justice. He stated that working together is essential to ensure the future is illuminated by past lessons rather than overshadowed by them.Jacqueline McKenzie from London law firm Leigh Day commented on the complexity of addressing slavery's legacy: "Reparations is not straightforward," she said. "At the moment it's a discussion among the elites, and the people, the descendants of the enslaved … aren't really part of the discussion."The debate over reparations continues as nations grapple with how best to address historical injustices while shaping a future informed by these lessons.