Reparations are about more than money | Editors

As world leaders gathered at the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa, the ongoing debate over reparations for slavery, driven by Caribbean countries’ demands for justice, took center stage once again.

But despite the urgency expressed by Caribbean leaders such as our own Prime Minister Philip Davis, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer remained coy on the issue.

Starmer’s position – that he would prefer to focus on forward-looking issues such as climate change – reflects a well-known reluctance to confront the lasting impact of Britain’s colonial legacy.

The history of the British Empire is steeped in exploitation, violence and systematic oppression, with a substantial portion of its “wealth” built on the backs of enslaved people and nations it plundered.

The blood and treasures it has shed from the lands it has colonized are priceless.

While modern Britain may not have directly benefited from the injustices of its imperial past, the deep-seated inequalities born of colonialism remain evident in its former colonies.

Davis rightly noted that reparations are not just about financial compensation; they are about truth, recognition and justice.

Addressing reparations through conversations recognizes the reality that the impact of colonialism is not left in history; it permeates the present, shaping socio-economic inequality, racial hierarchies, and cultural wounds.

Davis rightly argued that there must be a “come to Jesus” moment when both Britain and its former colonies come to terms with the past.

This would, as Commonwealth leaders emphasized in the CHOGM communiqué, entail truthful and respectful dialogue aimed at forging a future based on equality.

For countries that have endured centuries of exploitation, achieving justice is not about assigning blame but about true reconciliation.

Consider the $24 trillion estimate that the University of the West Indies (UWI) has suggested Britain owes for its role in the transatlantic slave trade.

This astronomical amount demonstrates the impossible nature of fully repaying a debt that extends far beyond financial calculations.

The scars of slavery, colonial exploitation and economic plunder cannot be healed through monetary payments alone.

Reparations could instead focus on substantive education and development initiatives that uplift marginalized communities in former colonies, access to trade opportunities, climate assistance specifically tailored to countries particularly vulnerable due to colonial resource extraction, and meaningful political support in international bodies.

As Davis noted, “money by itself” cannot drive away the ghosts of the past.

What we need is a more practical and sustainable path to building a fairer Commonwealth community, addressing the deep-seated economic and social divides that shape Britain’s imperial legacy.

While Starmer argues that Commonwealth countries must prioritize future issues such as climate change, he overlooks how deeply the past remains embedded in these contemporary challenges.

For example, climate change disproportionately affects Caribbean and African countries, many of which were systematically stripped of resources during colonial rule and left without adequate infrastructure.

The exploitation of natural resources in former colonies has made them more vulnerable to environmental crises, another legacy of colonialism that requires repair.

Starmer’s preference to “roll up his sleeves” and focus on future issues without discussing reparations ignores the essential truth that a forward-looking approach cannot succeed without confronting the structural remains of the past.

Davis refuted this position and reminded us that understanding history is crucial to making informed decisions for the future.

“It’s not just about an apology,” he said.

In his CHOGM speech, King Charles reiterated the importance of “recognizing where we come from,” but stopped short of an apology or a specific commitment to reparations.

His words still fell short of the justice many Commonwealth countries sought.

The King’s comments demonstrate Britain’s need for responsible leadership – one that does not shy away from historical responsibility, but embraces it as the basis for a fairer future.

If Commonwealth countries are to truly benefit from a shared future, Britain must actively participate in recovery conversations, not as a reluctant party, but as a committed leader in the process.

The decision to enter talks on reparations takes courage and humility, qualities that should define Britain’s role within the Commonwealth if the country is to maintain relevance and credibility in the 21st century.

The UK can never truly repay what it took from the countries it once ruled.

And the heirs of the British Empire’s brutality and greed are unwilling to simply move on.

However, through recovery conversations, Britain can promote a path to healing and reconciliation.