Commonwealth leaders announce discussions on UK slavery reparations

Commonwealth leaders from 56 countries announced on Saturday that they will discuss the possibility of reparations from the UK for its role in the transatlantic slave trade. The schedule for the meeting was released during the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa, stating that the leaders will “play an active role in bringing about such inclusive conversations,” referring to discussions on reparatory justice regarding the trans-Atlantic trade and chattel enslavement of Africans. According to Al Jazeera, a section involving references to reparations was proposed but vetoed by the UK, with the provision on “discussing it” included instead. In an interview for the BBC, the Bahamas Minister for Foreign Affairs stated that there is a hesitation by the UK to discuss this topic, but the discussion needs to be had nonetheless, as the consequences of the trans-Atlantic slavery still persist in commonwealth nations’ societies. In a speech in during the CHOGM, King Charles stated that while the past cannot be changed it is imperative to learn lessons from the history as a guide towards the future, indirectly acknowledging the calls for his recognition of the UK’s role in the slave trade. Historically, European countries have been resistant to...