Commonwealth heads of government are preparing to defy the United Kingdom and agree plans to explore restorative justice for the transatlantic slave trade, the BBC has learned.
Downing Street insists the issue is not on the agenda of the 56 Commonwealth country summit, which starts on Friday on the Pacific island of Samoa.
But diplomatic sources said officials were negotiating a deal to investigate further and begin a “meaningful conversation” on an issue that could see Britain owe billions of pounds in reparations.
The current text of the summit’s draft communiqué – released to the BBC – reads: “The heads, taking note of calls for discussions on restorative justice in relation to the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and chattel slavery… agreed agree that the time has come for a meaningful, honest and respectful conversation about forging a common future based on equality.”
It said heads of government would “play an active role in establishing such inclusive conversations to address these harms” and that they agreed “to prioritize and facilitate further and additional research into transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and the slavery that encourages and supports slavery.” conversations and points to a way forward.”
The text – which could change once Commonwealth leaders arrive – was drawn up by diplomats ahead of the summit. British officials managed to block a plan for an entirely separate statement on the subject.
Britain did not want any language in the restorative justice communiqué, but at this stage must accept that it will contain three full paragraphs setting out the Commonwealth’s detailed position.
Restorative justice for slavery can take many forms, including financial reparations, debt relief, official apologies, educational programs, building museums, economic support, and public health assistance.
Officials from Caricom, the body representing Caribbean countries, have tried to broaden the issue to include not only the trans-Atlantic slave trade but also the Pacific.
The draft communiqué says that a majority of member states share “common historical experiences regarding this abhorrent trade, slavery, weakening and dispossession of indigenous people.”
It also refers directly to practices known as “blackbirding,” in which Pacific islanders were tricked or kidnapped into slavery or cheap labor in colonies throughout the region.
Diplomats said the expectation was now that restorative justice would be a central focus on the agenda of the next Commonwealth summit in two years’ time in the Caribbean, possibly Antigua and Barbuda.
Ahead of this year’s summit, there have been growing calls from Commonwealth leaders for Britain to apologize and pay trillions of pounds worth of reparations for the country’s historic role in the slave trade.
A report published last year by the University of the West Indies – backed by Patrick Robinson, a judge on the International Court of Justice – concluded that Britain owes more than £18 trillion in reparations for its role in slavery in 14 Caribbean countries.
Last weekend, the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Philip Davis, took advantage of a visit from Foreign Secretary Baroness Chapman to tell her that the battle for reparations was far from over.
According to the Bahamas government website, Mr. Davis said: “The call for reparations is not just about financial compensation. It is not about financial compensation.
‘It’s about recognizing the lasting impact of centuries of exploitation and ensuring that the legacy of slavery is addressed with fairness and integrity.
“As Caribbean countries, we are united in our demand for justice for the generations that came before us and for those of us who still live with that brutal history.”
A UK government spokesperson said they would not comment on the leak to the BBC, but added: “Reparations are not on the agenda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. The government’s position has not changed: we will not pay reparations.
“We are focused on using the top op [the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting] to discuss the shared opportunities we can unlock across the Commonwealth – including securing greater economic growth.”
It is clear that Downing Street’s position – that restorative justice is not on the agenda – while technically correct, has angered some Caribbean ministers when it was clear the issue would be discussed at the summit.
It is one of many issues that are not technically on the agenda, but will still be addressed and discussed.
Sir Keir Starmer landed in Samoa late British time on Wednesday, becoming the first sitting prime minister to visit a Pacific island nation.
Speaking to reporters along the way, he said he wanted to discuss current challenges with Commonwealth leaders, especially climate change, rather than issues of the past.
“What they are most interested in is whether we can help them work with, for example, international financial institutions on the types of packages they need now in relation to the challenges they face,” he said.
“That’s what I’m going to focus on – rather than on what will end up being very, very long, endless discussions about reparations for the past.
“Of course slavery is abhorrent to everyone; trade and practice, there is no doubt about that. But I think from my point of view… I would rather roll up my sleeves and work with them on the current future challenges than spend a lot of time on the past.”
King Charles arrived in Samoa on Wednesday for a four-day visit and will formally open the summit.
During a visit to Kenya last year, the king expressed his “deepest sorrow and regret” over colonial-era “abuses” but made no apology, which would have required the agreement of ministers.
Some non-Caribbean countries are not unsympathetic to the British position and want the summit to focus more on existing challenges – such as climate change, which is negatively impacting many Commonwealth countries, around half of which are small island states.
But Caribbean countries appear determined to keep pushing the issue.
All three candidates hoping to be elected this weekend as the next Commonwealth Secretary-General – Ghana’s Shirley Botchwey, Lesotho’s Joshua Setipa and Gambia’s Mamadou Tangara – have made it clear they support restorative justice.
