Commonwealth summit agreement raises slavery reparations after row with UK – POLITICO

MALUA, Samoa — Britain’s former colonies agreed “the time has come” for a conversation about reparatory justice for the slave trade, after a row over the issue dominated the Commonwealth’s biennial summit.

A communiqué from 55 Commonwealth nations in Samoa, including the U.K. and many members of its former empire, said heads of government, “noting calls for discussions on reparatory justice with regard to the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and chattel enslavement … agreed that the time has come for a meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation towards forging a common future based on equity.”

The wording was agreed after sustained pressure from some member states, particularly Caribbean countries, despite Britain insisting reparations were “not on the agenda” for the summit.