Commonwealth nations agree to discuss reparations for the slave trade

Commonwealth leaders have agreed to start a discussion on compensation for countries that have suffered in the past because of the slave trade involving Britain.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 countries, including former British colonies. Until Saturday, the biennial meetings of heads of government in Samoa were held.

Countries signed the communiqué and adopted it on closing day. It said they were committed to supporting small states, in particular small island developing states, or SIDS, and efforts to address global warming and other issues.

Additionally, she addressed calls for a discussion on restorative justice in relation to slavery. The document stated that member countries agreed that it was time to talk about this matter.

Calls for apologies and reparations are growing, mainly from Caribbean countries, against Britain, which has benefited from the slave trade for many years since the late 16th century.

Britain is said to have transported around 3 million people, mostly from West Africa, to its colonies in the Caribbean and the Americas as workers in tobacco, cotton and sugar farming. Such products are believed to have helped Britain make its fortune and enabled it to continue its industrial revolution.

Britain’s King Charles, who heads the Commonwealth Group, said at the opening of the forum that he was listening to people across the Commonwealth “how the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Saturday that there was no discussion about money at the meeting, adding that his country’s position on the matter was very clear.

His remark is seen as a suggestion that the UK is looking at options for reparations other than a huge sum of cash.

Local media reported that Britain may be considering debt relief, economic aid and other forms of compensation.