The United Kingdom has agreed to take part in structured, time-bound, inclusive and good-faith talks on the historical harms of the transatlantic slave trade.
The commitment was contained in the communique issued at the end of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda. Leaders said the time had come for a meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation towards forging a common future based on equity.
The move follows Prime Minister Andy Burnham opening the door to a formal apology on behalf of the UK for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, while ruling out direct financial reparations. He has said he does not believe British people today can be held liable for historical wrongs, however heinous, which happened in a different age under different laws and in which they played no personal part.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said a formal apology was something the British government was open to. He indicated the discussions were likely to finish in around a year, and when asked whether that could mean an apology by the time Britain hosts the G20 leaders’ summit in Manchester next November, he replied: “Broadly speaking, yes.” Officials said the exact timetable for the talks would be settled later.
Britain has never formally apologised for its role in the global slave trade. Tony Blair came closest in 2006, when he expressed his “deep sorrow that it ever happened” on behalf of the country.
Alongside the talks, the UK will provide £40 million over three years from existing budgets to speed up critical infrastructure investment in the Caribbean, including green energy. Mr Burnham has also spoken about a debt reset to help poorer countries struggling with repayments, but Caribbean leaders maintain that an apology and development support cannot replace reparatory justice.
Story by Ama Frimpomaa