Caribbean leaders are hopeful that the new Labour government in the UK may reconsider its long-standing refusal to discuss slavery reparations and engage in conversations about addressing
historical injustices and their lasting impact.
While past British governments have consistently rejected calls for reparations, Hilary Beckles, chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) reparations commission, expressed optimism that the Labour administration could change this stance.
In 2016, CARICOM, representing 15 member nations including Jamaica and Barbados, sent formal requests to former European colonial powers, including Britain, seeking talks on reparations. None of these countries agreed to the discussions at the time, but there are plans to renew these efforts soon.
"We remain committed to pressing for a summit with European nations to explore what a model for reparatory justice in the Caribbean should look like," Beckles told Reuters this week.
CARICOM has its own reparations plan, which calls for several measures, including formal apologies from European nations, debt forgiveness, and technology transfers.
David Lammy, the UK’s new foreign minister, has Caribbean heritage and often speaks about his ancestral ties to enslaved people. In an interview with The Guardian prior to the election, Lammy stated that his family’s history would influence his work in government.
“Lammy has supported the reparations dialogue while in opposition,” Beckles noted. “The key question is whether he will have the freedom in government to elevate the matter to a higher level.”
The UK’s Foreign Office has not yet responded to Reuters' request for clarification on the government’s stance on reparations. In 2023, a Labour party spokesperson confirmed that reparations were not an official part of the party's policy.
Although the issue of reparations has been gaining traction globally, it remains a highly debated topic.
Later this month, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will travel to Samoa for a Commonwealth heads of government meeting, where reparations are expected to be part of the discussions.
Additionally, all three candidates vying to become the next secretary-general of the Commonwealth, a group of 56 nations led by King Charles, have expressed support for reparations. Photo by Internet Archive Book Images, Wikimedia commons.