King Charles III and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are set to face mounting demands for $261 billion in reparations at the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The calls, led by Caribbean nations, aim to address Britain’s historical involvement in the transatlantic slave trade.
Barbados, with Prime Minister Mia Mottley at the helm, has been a prominent advocate, pushing for compensation as part of a broader reckoning with the lasting impacts of slavery and colonialism.
Mottley, a key voice on the global stage, recently underscored the urgency of reparations during her address at the United Nations, stating, “The time has come to address the issue of reparatory justice.” In the lead-up to the Commonwealth summit, she met with King Charles III during a visit to London, where she praised the monarch for acknowledging the significance of the reparations debate.
“This is a conversation whose time has come,” Mottley remarked. Although Buckingham Palace has not disclosed the specifics of their discussion, the meeting highlights the increasing pressure on the UK to confront its colonial past.
King Charles has previously expressed personal sorrow over Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade. During a 2022 Commonwealth reception in Rwanda, he said, “I cannot describe the depths of my personal sorrow at the suffering of so many, as I continue to deepen my understanding of slavery’s enduring impact.”
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The monarch has since supported efforts to examine the British monarchy’s historical links to the slave trade, with the royal archives releasing key documents. One recently uncovered 17th-century ledger revealed that King William III held shares in the Royal African Company, a major player in the slave trade during that period.
While the current reparations demand stands at $261 billion, some economists argue that the true figure could be far higher. The Brattle Group, an economic consulting firm, has estimated that Britain’s debt could reach as much as $24 trillion for its three-century participation in the slave trade. Reverend Dr. Michael Banner of Trinity College, Cambridge, has similarly assessed that the UK owes £205 billion ($261 billion) to the Caribbean for the damages inflicted by slavery.
The push for reparations is not new but has gained renewed momentum in the wake of the global Black Lives Matter movement. In 2023, Mottley called for the UK to pay $4.9 trillion in reparations, adding her voice to a chorus of activists and political leaders who argue that Britain must take responsibility for its historical actions. At the recent UN General Assembly, Mottley also urged an additional decade to address the legacies of slavery and colonialism, emphasizing the unresolved struggles faced by former British colonies.
However, UK officials have historically resisted calls for reparations. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, during his tenure, declined to apologize or offer reparatory payments, stating, “Trying to unpick our history is not the right way forward and is not something we will focus our energies on.” This position reflects the broader reluctance of the British government to engage with reparations, though the persistence of the issue suggests it will remain a point of contention.
International advocates for reparations, such as UN judge Patrick Robinson, have continued to press the UK for action. Robinson has argued that countries responsible for historical injustices must provide compensation to the descendants of those affected, especially as new research uncovers the extent of the damage caused by the transatlantic slave trade. In April, he stressed that Britain cannot ignore the growing calls for reparations.
Britain’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade began in 1562, and by the 18th century, the country had emerged as the world’s largest slave-trading nation. Although the slave trade was officially abolished in 1807, and slavery itself ended in British colonies in 1833, the legacy of this brutal practice continues to cast a long shadow over former colonies, particularly in the Caribbean.
The upcoming Commonwealth summit, scheduled for October 21, is expected to bring these calls for reparations to the forefront. With King Charles III and Prime Minister Starmer in attendance, the UK will face increased pressure to confront its colonial past and address the deep economic disparities left in its wake. Whether Britain will take meaningful steps toward reparatory justice remains to be seen.
