Commonwealth heads of government to defy UK over slavery reparations

Commonwealth heads of government are preparing to defy the United Kingdom and agree plans to review the Atlantic slave trade’s restitution justice, the BBC has learned.

Downing Street insists that this issue is not on the agenda of the 56-nation Commonwealth conference, which begins on the Pacific island of Samoa on Friday.

But media outlets said officials were negotiating a deal to carry out further research and start a “reasonable discussion” on the issue which could leave the UK billions of pounds in debt.

Frederick Mitchell, the foreign minister of the Bahamas, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Once you tell the story it may take a while for people to come but they will.”

Restorative justice for slavery can come in many forms, including financial compensation, debt relief, formal apologies, educational programs, museum buildings, economic support, and public health assistance.

The current text of the draft summit communique – which has been reported by the BBC – says: “The heads, aware of the calls for dialogue on restorative justice in relation to the transatlantic trade for enslaved Africans and chattel slavery … agreed that the time has come to be objective , an honest and respectful conversation towards building a common future based on equality.”

It says that the heads of government will play “a visible role in bringing about inclusive dialogue to address this harm” and that they have agreed to “prioritize and carry out more research on the transatlantic trade in enslaved African countries and on slavery that encourages and supports dialogue and informs the way forward”.

Text – subject to change once Commonwealth leaders fika – attacked by ambassadors before the conference. British officials succeeded in blocking the plan for a completely different declaration on the matter.

The UK did not want any language in the debate about restorative justice, but for now it has to accept that it will include three full clauses setting out the Commonwealth’s detailed position.

Officials of Caricom, a body representing Caribbean countries, have tried to expand the issue to include not only the transatlantic slave trade but also the Pacific.

The draft report states that most of the member states “share common historical facts regarding this abominable trade, chattel slavery, degradation and dispossession of indigenous peoples”.

It also refers directly to practices known as “blackbirding”, where Pacific Islanders are tricked or captured into slavery or cheap labor in colonies throughout the region.

Politicians say the expectation now is that restorative justice will be central to the agenda of the next Commonwealth conference in two years in the Caribbean, possibly Antigua and Barbuda.

As we approach this year’s conference, the complaints of Commonwealth leaders have increased for the UK to apologize and make reparations worth billions of pounds for the country’s historic role in the slave trade.

A report published last year by the University of the West Indies – supported by Patrick Robinson, a resident judge at the International Court of Justice – concluded that the UK owes more than £18tn in compensation for its role in slavery in 14 Caribbean countries.

Last weekend the prime minister of the Bahamas, Philip Davis, used the visit of Foreign Office minister Baroness Chapman to tell him that the battle for reparations is far from over.

Bahamas foreign minister Frederick Mitchell told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The word apology, that’s the word.”

He said at the Commonwealth meeting, “it’s a simple matter – it can be done, one sentence, one line.”

Asked how much the compensation should be, Mr Mitchell said it was not just about money but “respect, acknowledging that the past was a mistake that needs to be rectified”.

He said that the member countries “want to start a dialogue” but “it seems that there is also a reluctance to have a dialogue”.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the UK had heard calls for the return of slavery “loud and clear” but the prime minister was “right” to “focus on the future”.

A UK government spokesman said they would not comment on the BBC leak, but added: “Reparations are not on the Commonwealth Heads of Government agenda. The government’s position has not changed – it does not pay compensation.

“We are focusing on using the conference for it [the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting] to discuss the shared opportunities we can open up for the Commonwealth – including achieving more economic growth.”

It is understood that Downing Street’s position – that restorative justice is not on the agenda – although correct, has angered some Caribbean ministers when it is clear that the issue will be discussed at the conference.

The BBC understands that the tenor and tone of language from the UK government has had the effect of “further upsetting” some members who may not have expected the UK to change its mind and “suddenly start spending more money”.

Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Samoa late on Wednesday in the UK, becoming the first prime minister to visit the Pacific island nation.

Speaking to reporters on the way, he said he wanted to discuss the current issues with the Commonwealth leaders, especially climate change, rather than discussing the past.

“The most interesting thing is, can we help them to work with, for example, international financial institutions in terms of the types of packages they need right now in relation to the challenges they are facing,” he said.

“That’s where I’m going to focus – rather than what will end up being very long, endless discussions about bringing back the past.

“Yes, slavery is an abomination to everyone; trading and doing, there is no question about that. But I think from my point of view… I prefer to roll up my sleeves and work with them on the current challenges facing the future rather than spending too much time in the past.”

King Charles he came to Samoa on a four-day visit on Wednesday and is expected to officially open the conference.

When we visited Kenya last year, the King expressed deep sorrow and regret for the “injustice” of the colonial era, but stopped short of an apology, which would have required a ministerial agreement.

Some non-Caribbean countries are not sympathetic to the British position and want the conference to focus more on the challenges at hand – such as climate change, which affects many Commonwealth countries, almost half of which are small islands.

But Caribbean countries seem determined to continue pressing the issue.

All three candidates this weekend for the next Commonwealth secretary-general – Ghana’s Shirley Botchwey, Lesotho’s Joshua Setipa and Gambia’s Mamadou Tangara – have made it clear that they support justice.

The British government and the monarchy were prominent participants in the slave trade that lasted for centuries from 1500, along with other European nations, and millions of Africans were forced to work in the fields.

Britain also played a major role in ending the trade with the passage of the Slavery Act by Parliament in 1833.