It is time for the Commonwealth to demand « justice » for the slavery suffered by many members, said the Prime Minister of the Bahamas on Friday in the Samoa Islands, in the South Pacific, where a summit of Commonwealth countries is being held.
“Now is the time to engage in a real dialogue on how to right these historic wrongs”Philip Davis told AFP during this meeting which brings together representatives of 56 countries of the Commonwealth, originally made up of former British colonies and which later expanded.
Many African, Caribbean and Pacific countries would like Britain, and other European powers, to pay financial compensation for slavery or at least make political amends.
They hope the summit will commit to opening a discussion on the subject, a debate that Britain has so far tried to avoid.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in discussion at the Commonwealth summit in Apia, Samoa, October 24, 2024 / Fiona GOODALL / POOL/AFP
“Restorative justice is not an easy conversation, but it is important”Mr. Davis told AFP.
“Our history is deeply intertwined, which brings with it the responsibility to face the past honestly”.
“The horrors of slavery have left deep, generational wounds in our communities, and the fight for justice and restorative justice is far from over.”he declared.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has so far publicly rejected demands for reparations and his aides have ruled out an apology at the summit.
The British royal family, which benefited from the slave trade for centuries, was also asked to apologize.
“Demands for reparations are not limited to financial compensation; it is about recognizing the lasting impact of centuries of exploitation, and ensuring that the legacy of slavery is treated with honesty and integrity,” Philip Davis insisted.
