Britain weighs a slavery apology that meets one Caribbean demand
LONDON — British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has offered to discuss a formal state apology for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade. An apology is the first of ten demands in the Caribbean Community’s reparations plan. Ahead of the Commonwealth summit in Antigua and Barbuda, Burnham ruled out financial compensation and proposed easing debt repayments for vulnerable countries.
Writing in The Guardian, Burnham expressed personal regret for the suffering of enslaved Africans and acknowledged that the trade still shapes lives today. He stopped short of apologising on Britain’s behalf, saying his government would hear from affected countries and communities before deciding whether to take that step. On compensation, he argued that people living in Britain today should not be held personally liable for historical wrongs.
Why the distinction matters in the Caribbean
The Caribbean Community, known as CARICOM, directs its claim at European governments. Its reparations commission argues that a formal apology would acknowledge state responsibility in a way that expressions of regret have so far avoided. Its plan also seeks support for public health, assistance for descendants of enslaved Africans who wish to resettle in Africa, and debt cancellation.
Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne welcomed Burnham’s willingness to talk and his proposals for practical assistance. He also made clear that the Caribbean’s position on reparations stood. Debt illustrates the distance between the two positions as Commonwealth leaders prepare to meet. Burnham proposes giving vulnerable borrowers longer to repay and better interest rates. CARICOM wants European governments to help cancel the debt itself.
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