Perhaps sensing that they are losing a bit of momentum, Caribbean Community leaders have pledged to take on the United Kingdom on reparations for slavery when the 56-nation Commonwealth group meets in Samoa in the Pacific later this year.
When they met in Grenada at the end of last month, regional leaders reviewed progress on the fight to make former European slave-trading nations come to the table and pay reparations for slavery. One key note emerging from their three-day summit was a renewed commitment “to speak forcefully” with the British delegation and others in the grouping of former British colonies.
Representing colleagues on the issue in the past week, Trinidad’s Prime Minister Keith Rowley said a decision has been made to up the ante beginning with the summit in October. “When we meet in Samoa, the Caribbean leaders [will] very forcefully speak to the Commonwealth as one voice, and there is one particular country with a new king and a labor government with an outstanding mandate. We look forward to their reaction in October,” Rowley said, clearly referring to Britain.
In related remarks at a recent slavery emancipation ceremony, Rowley said, “Because I believe that until respect of people becomes acknowledged by those who hold authority, African people will continue to be viewed as second- and third-class, and we will continue to have to fight for freedom and respect.”
The 15-nation bloc has already sent demand letters to countries like France, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Britain suggesting that they prepare to begin formal talks about the issue, because these nations have built their wealth on the backs of free African slave labor in brutal and dehumanizing conditions.
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To fight their case, the region has also hired a British law firm that won millions for Kenyan tribes who were mowed down by white racist British soldiers during the colonial era. An early review of evidence has indicated that there is a very strong case to prosecute. Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley is the lead head of government on the issue.
Britain has steadfastly refused to engage the region on the issue, saying that other forms of aid it has given the region in recent decades are a form of compensation. During a visit to the Caribbean two years ago, Prince William said that “slavery was abhorrent and should never have happened,” but London has stopped short of issuing an apology. Conversely, both the prime minister of the Netherlands and its king have issued formal apologies in the past two years for the role of the Dutch in slavery. Both have left the door open for formal talks, but nothing has been heard of relating to formal engagements.
The bloc has already sent demand letters to letters to France, the Netherlands, Portugal, the UK, Spain, and others reminding them of their responsibilities to descendants of the slave trade, because many nations have built their riches on the backs of free African labor. Regional officials say that Portugal, France, and Spain, along with Britain, have basically refused to accept any responsibility for their role in slavery, saying it was centuries ago and the region should basically “get over it,” even as some prominent European families whose wealth came from slavery have offered apologies, plans to pay reparations, and to begin talks with various governments in the past two years.
Last month, the Anglican Church of England apologized for benefiting from slavery and said it is establishing a fund that would be linked to reparation payments.
Officials have said that the Netherlands has been the most progressive so far, indicating that it is interested in formal engagement on the issue. Caricom has also pushed for a summit with former slave-trading nations to get the discussion going at the highest level. No success has been achieved in this area.
Dressed in African attire, Rowley quoted late American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. as saying that the arc to freedom bends toward justice. “We here are gathered on that arc,” Rowley said. “We genuinely believe that it will bend to a point in a day when justice would be recognized by all and it will be handed to those who deserve it.”