APIA: The Commonwealth’s 56 members agreed the “time has come” for talks about the legacy of the “abhorrent” transatlantic slave trade on Saturday, in a landmark summit declaration that raised the prospect of future reparations.

Gathering in Samoa, leaders from Britain and dozens of former colonies held lengthy and occasionally tense talks over one of the most sensitive aspects of their shared and troubled past.

In a joint statement, Common­wealth leaders noted calls for “reparatory justice” for the “abhorrent” transatlantic slave trade and the “enduring effects” of dispossessing Indigenous people, indentureship and colonialism.

“The time has come for a meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation towards forging a common future based on equity,” a joint “Samoa Communique” said.

African, Caribbean and Pacific nations want Britain — and other colonial powers — to atone for slavery and other ills of colonisation, and to start talks about compensation.

Many remain poorer than their one-time colonial masters and are still scarred by the brutal trade that saw an estimated 10-15 million enslaved people ripped from Africa over four centuries.

While Britain has expressed remorse for slavery in broad terms, London has baulked at the idea of paying financial reparations, which could come with a hefty price tag.

During the summit, London tried to avoid making explicit commitments while trying to retain some semblance of Commonwealth unity. “I should be really clear here, in the two days we’ve been here, none of the discussions have been about money,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said after the meeting.

“Our position is very, very clear in relation to that”, he said, insisting talks had been “very positive”. The meeting’s conclusion was delayed for hours as leaders and officials tried to hammer out a compromise. The final text may be more vague and legalistic than some former colonies wanted.

During the summit, Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis said it was time for “a real dialogue about how we address these historical wrongs”.

“The horrors of slavery left a deep, generational wound in our communities, and the fight for justice and reparatory justice is far from over.” But one expert said the summit could come to be seen as historic.

“The commitment to conversations on reparatory justice wedges open the door for dialogue,” said Kingsley Abbott, of the University of London’s Institute of Com­monwealth Studies. “The Com­monwealth”, he said, “should see this as an opportunity to lead on a potentially historic process, and to do so with vision and courage.”

‘Painful’ past

For Britain — still staking out its place in the world after empire and leaving the European Union — the summit was a high-stakes balancing act. Starmer is under political pressure at home, and King Charles III, whose family benefited from the slave trade over centuries, had faced calls to apologise personally.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2024