In what is expected to be a pivotal moment at the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis is seeking to engage U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a “frank conversation” about reparatory justice for the transatlantic slave trade. Davis, a longstanding advocate for reparations, expressed his desire to bring the issue to the forefront, despite Starmer’s insistence on focusing on “future-facing challenges” such as climate change.
Starmer, who arrived in Samoa on Thursday for the CHOGM, emphasized in remarks to journalists that while slavery was “abhorrent,” he preferred to move beyond long discussions about the past and focus on contemporary global crises. “I’d rather roll up my sleeves and work with them on the current future-facing challenges than spend a lot of time on the past,” he said. This approach, however, contrasts sharply with the views of several Caribbean leaders, including Davis, who see a deep connection between the historical injustices of slavery and present-day challenges.
For Davis, the conversation on reparatory justice is not simply about financial compensation or formal apologies, but rather about a broader understanding of history and its lingering effects. “It’s not just about an apology. It’s not about money. It’s about an appreciation and embracing and understanding of what our ancestors went through,” Davis said, adding that the transatlantic slave trade left a lasting “scourge” on the African diaspora, manifesting in cultural, mental, and physical impacts that persist to this day.
Starmer’s reluctance to delve deeply into the subject of reparations reflects a broader hesitation within U.K. political circles to engage in formal discussions about compensating former colonies for the legacies of slavery. His remarks about focusing on current issues like climate change suggest that the British government sees more immediate challenges as higher priorities, a stance that many leaders in the Caribbean have criticized as overlooking the historical causes of the inequalities that shape these very crises.
The historical backdrop to these tensions cannot be understated. The transatlantic slave trade, which was driven by European powers including Britain, forcibly transported millions of Africans to the Americas and the Caribbean between the 16th and 19th centuries. Enslaved Africans were subjected to brutal conditions, exploited for labor in plantations, and deprived of basic human rights. The economic wealth generated from this system was foundational to the prosperity of many European nations, while the African diaspora bore the psychological, cultural, and socio-economic scars for generations.
Davis, like other Caribbean leaders, believes that acknowledging these injustices through reparatory justice is essential to addressing the inequalities that continue to affect former colonies. He called for a “come to Jesus moment,” where former colonial powers would engage in a truthful dialogue about the past. “The ghost that haunts us today cannot be, in my view, dispelled by a monetary gift,” he said, reflecting a broader understanding that reparations must encompass more than financial compensation.
While Starmer did not dismiss the importance of recognizing the atrocities of slavery, he framed his priorities differently. On the flight to CHOGM, the U.K. prime minister reiterated that the countries in the Commonwealth family were grappling with significant challenges, notably the climate crisis. “In all the conversations I’ve had with them, what they’re most interested in is — can we help them working with international institutions, financial institutions, on the sorts of packages they need right now,” Starmer said, hinting at a forward-looking agenda that focuses on economic aid and climate adaptation programs.
This perspective aligns with the U.K.’s broader diplomatic strategy within the Commonwealth, where development aid and climate action have taken center stage. Many Caribbean nations, including the Bahamas, are on the frontlines of climate change, facing rising sea levels, extreme weather, and environmental degradation. Starmer’s comments suggest that his government sees climate resilience as a more pressing issue than addressing historical grievances through reparatory justice, despite the clear linkage between the legacy of slavery and contemporary inequalities in wealth, infrastructure, and vulnerability to climate impacts.
CHOGM, which brings together 55 nations, provides a unique setting for these discussions, with its informal structure allowing for more candid exchanges between leaders. A key feature of the meeting is the leaders’ retreat — a six-hour, closed-door session with no aides, providing ample opportunity for private, direct conversations. Davis indicated that he intends to use this opportunity to engage Starmer directly on the issue of reparatory justice, emphasizing their personal connection. “He’s not unknown to me,” Davis said, referencing the time when both leaders were lawyers in a legal case that resulted in the abolition of the mandatory death penalty in the Bahamas.
This shared professional history may provide a foundation for the kind of “frank talk” Davis envisions. While he acknowledged that political leaders can sometimes be “hamstrung by those around us,” Davis expressed hope that Starmer’s personal sense of fairness and justice would lead to an open and honest dialogue.
The issue of reparations is not confined to the Caribbean. In recent years, calls for reparatory justice have grown across the Commonwealth and beyond. Countries like Barbados, Jamaica, and Antigua and Barbuda have been vocal about the need for former colonial powers to reckon with the legacies of slavery and colonialism. Advocacy groups such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Reparations Commission have put forth detailed proposals for reparations, which include not only financial compensation but also educational, cultural, and developmental initiatives aimed at rectifying historical wrongs.
A draft communique circulating at CHOGM reportedly includes language that acknowledges these calls for reparatory justice. According to the BBC, the draft states that leaders “agreed that the time has come for a meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation towards forging a common future based on equity.” This wording reflects the growing momentum behind the reparations movement, though it remains to be seen whether the final communique will retain this language and whether leaders like Starmer will fully engage with the issue.
Davis confirmed that he is pushing for reparatory justice to be explicitly mentioned in the final document. “Certainly. What would [the communique] be without saying something about it?” he said, underscoring the centrality of the issue for many Caribbean nations.
For Davis and other advocates, reparations are about much more than financial compensation. They are about recognizing and addressing the enduring effects of slavery on the African diaspora, which continue to manifest in socio-economic disparities, systemic racism, and cultural trauma. Reparatory justice, in their view, involves a holistic approach that includes public apologies, educational reforms, and efforts to dismantle the structures of inequality that slavery helped create.
At the same time, the issue of reparations is deeply intertwined with broader geopolitical and economic considerations. For Caribbean nations, many of which are small, vulnerable economies heavily impacted by climate change, the question of reparations is also about securing a more equitable global order. It is about ensuring that the wealth generated by colonial exploitation is used to redress historical wrongs and support sustainable development in regions that continue to suffer from the legacies of empire.
As CHOGM continues in Samoa, the question of whether Starmer and Davis will find common ground on reparations remains open. While the U.K. prime minister has indicated a willingness to acknowledge the horrors of slavery, his focus on present and future challenges may put him at odds with leaders like Davis who believe that a full reckoning with the past is essential to addressing the inequalities of today.
Davis’ push for a “frank conversation” about reparatory justice is part of a broader movement within the Commonwealth, one that seeks not just apologies or compensation, but a genuine dialogue about history, justice, and the future. Whether or not this conversation will take place at CHOGM, and whether it will lead to concrete actions, remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade continues to shape the present, and the demand for justice will not be easily set aside.
