The head of the Caribbean reparations body has emphasized that Britain has both a legal and moral responsibility to address its historical role in slavery. This statement comes as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer continues to resist calls to put the reparations issue on the agenda ahead of the Commonwealth summit, where he will meet leaders from 55 countries.
Sir Hilary Beckles, a prominent Caribbean historian and chair of the Caribbean governments’ reparations commission, responded to the Prime Minister’s insistence on focusing on future issues rather than engaging in discussions about the past. Beckles called on the British government and institutions to adopt “a compassionate, intergenerational strategy to support postcolonial reconstruction.”
As global calls for reparations intensify, Beckles questioned why Britain remains resistant. The Caribbean Community (Caricom) reparations committee, representing 15 Caribbean nations and six associate members, has outlined a 10-point reparatory justice plan that includes an official apology and initiatives to address the lasting socioeconomic impacts of slavery.
In a recent piece for the Guardian, Beckles articulated a robust argument for reparations, citing legal, ethical, and moral grounds. His commentary follows weeks of political maneuvering, as Caribbean leaders have urged for discussions on reparations during the Commonwealth heads of government meeting, while Starmer maintains that the UK must prioritize “real challenges” like climate change.
Addressing the UK government’s stance against reparations, Beckles challenged the claim that there’s no interest in the issue. “Nothing could be further from the truth,” he asserted. “Reparations are at the forefront of the minds of all participants. The formal agenda does not dictate the real agenda.”
Beckles pointed out that while Britain thrived economically through its colonial past, the descendants of enslaved people continue to suffer. He described the Slavery Abolition Act as “the most racist legislation ever passed in the British parliament,” arguing that it dehumanized 700,000 enslaved individuals by classifying them as property.
He noted that global sentiment is increasingly aligned with the idea of reparations, which he rooted in international law and ethical considerations. Referring to the insights of Nobel laureate Arthur Lewis, Beckles underscored the historical debt owed by Britain for two centuries of free labor from an estimated 20 million individuals of African descent.
Caribbean officials, including Bahamas’ Foreign Minister Frederick Mitchell, have expressed persistence on the issue of reparations. Speaking on the BBC’s Today programme, Mitchell suggested it’s “only a matter of time” before Starmer revises his stance, positing that historically, these conversations were expected to emerge from the Labour party, not the Conservative party.
Patricia Scotland, the outgoing Commonwealth Secretary-General, weighed in on the topic, highlighting the Commonwealth platform’s unique inclusivity. “All affected parties are around the table,” she said, noting that it’s up to the leaders to discuss the topic if they choose.
The upcoming Commonwealth summit, held every two years, will provide a crucial opportunity for leaders from the 56-member bloc to address shared challenges, historically including significant moral issues like apartheid in South Africa. At the core of the Commonwealth’s mission is a charter established in 2013, promoting principles such as support for vulnerable nations and a commitment to equality.
