Caricom demands reparations from UK for transatlantic slave trade

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) is prioritizing demands for reparations from the United Kingdom regarding the transatlantic slave trade. These claims are expected to be raised during the Commonwealth of Nations heads of government meeting held in Antigua and Barbuda.

Caricom Secretary-General Carla Barnett described the issue as a search for reparative justice following a United Nations resolution that labeled the trafficking of enslaved Africans as the most serious crime against humanity. Hilary Beckles, president of the Caricom Reparations Commission, has called for international dialogue on methodologies to address the legacies of these crimes.

Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley stated that Barbados welcomes the UK Prime Minister’s acknowledgment of the brutality of the slave trade and his openness to structured dialogue and a formal apology. While differences remain regarding the specifics of reparations, Mottley indicated that Barbados intends to engage in good faith.