Leaders of the Commonwealth nations have agreed to start discussing compensation for countries that suffered from Britain-involved slave trade in the past.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 countries, including former British colonies. They held a biennial Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa until Saturday.
The countries singed a communique and adopted it on the closing day. It said they are committed to supporting small states, particularly Small Island Developing States, or SIDS, and to making efforts to tackle global warming and other issues.
In addition, it referred to the calls for discussions on reparatory justice with regard to slavery. The document said the member countries agreed that the time has come for conversation on the issue.
Calls for an apology and reparations have been mounting, mainly from the Caribbean countries, against Britain, which benefited from slave trade for many years since the late 16th century.
Britain is said to have transported about 3 million people, mainly from western Africa, to its colonies in the Caribbean and Americas as laborers to grow tobacco, cotton and sugar. Such products are believed to have helped Britain make a fortune and enabled it to push ahead with the Industrial Revolution.
Britain’s King Charles, who heads the Commonwealth group, said at the opening of the forum that he understands from listening to people across the Commonwealth “how the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate.”
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Saturday that there had been no discussions about money at the meeting, adding that his country’s position in relation to that is very clear.
His remark is seen as a suggestion that Britain is seeking options for reparations other than what would be an immense sum of cash payment.
Local media reported that Britain may be considering reduction of debts, economic assistance and other forms of compensation.