On the final day of their royal visit to Australia and Samoa, King Charles III and Queen Camilla attended a farewell ceremony in the village of Siumu, Samoa. Representatives from 56 nations have been participating in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa since the 21st. Countries from Africa and the Caribbean have been pressing the UK for reparations regarding its role in the transatlantic slave trade, or at the very least, political compensation. During the summit on the 25th, King Charles stated that the Commonwealth should acknowledge its “painful” history. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has shown a willingness to accommodate these demands from member nations but has ruled out financial reparations, considering instead “non-cash” options.
King Charles remarked, “By listening to the voices of people across the Commonwealth, I have come to understand how the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate. Therefore, it is vital to recognize our history, as it can guide us in making the right choices for the future.”
According to reports from Central Broadcasting Station, the calls for Britain to pay reparations for the transatlantic slave trade have been longstanding. However, momentum has been building recently, particularly within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the African Union.
Opponents of reparations argue that countries should not be held accountable for historical wrongs, while supporters contend that the legacy of slavery has resulted in widespread and persistent racial inequality today.
On the 21st, Sunak told the BBC that the UK would listen to the countries wishing to discuss this issue at the summit, while firmly rejecting the possibility of an apology for its historical role in the trade.
As reported by The Daily Telegraph, faced with demands from Commonwealth countries for reparations potentially amounting to £18 trillion (approximately $23.3 trillion), Sunak has dismissed the calls for economic compensation and is rumored to be considering alternatives such as debt relief, support for public health initiatives, and discounted education programs for students from Commonwealth nations.
Frederick Mitchell, the Bahamas’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, informed the BBC on the 24th that the draft conclusions of the summit, set to be released on the 26th, will contain sections calling for discussions on reparations.
Patricia Scotland, a Dominican-born British diplomat and lawyer, and Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, stated during the summit, “We have demonstrated an unparalleled ability to confront this painful history, which has allowed us to sit together as equals for the past 75 years.”
From the 15th to the 19th centuries, at least 12.5 million Africans were kidnapped and forcibly taken by European ships and traders and sold into slavery. Those who survived the brutal journeys ultimately labored under inhumane conditions on plantations in the Americas, while others profited from their labor.
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