Caribbean Leaders Demand Reparations and Independence from Colonial Powers

Washington DC, United States Jul 15, 2026 ALN: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A group of Caribbean leaders met with senior clergy from the Church of England on Tuesday as the push for slavery reparations intensifies, with activists also calling for the independence of British, French, Dutch, and U.S. territories in the region. This meeting reflects a broader movement across the Caribbean, where leaders are increasingly vocal about the historical injustices faced by their nations and communities due to colonialism and slavery.

The reparations commission from Caricom, a Caribbean trade bloc, was scheduled to also meet with British parliamentarians as part of a four-day official trip to the United Kingdom to seek reparations, marking the second such trip since November. Caricom, which stands for the Caribbean Community, is an organization that promotes economic integration and cooperation among its member states. The commission's efforts are part of a larger strategy to address the legacy of slavery and colonialism, which many Caribbean nations argue continue to affect their socio-economic conditions today.

The group said the commission is creating a framework to launch negotiations because the time for making the case for reparatory justice is overdue. This framework is expected to outline the specific reparations that Caribbean nations are seeking, which may include financial compensation, educational initiatives, and the establishment of memorials to honor the victims of slavery. The discussions are rooted in a growing recognition that the impacts of slavery are not merely historical but continue to have profound effects on the descendants of enslaved individuals.

“We in the Caribbean remain the most colonized part of the world, and this has to stop,” said Hilary Beckles, chairman of Caricom’s reparations commission and vice chancellor of the University of the West Indies. Beckles has been a prominent advocate for reparations, emphasizing that the Caribbean's colonial past has left deep scars that require acknowledgment and restitution. His statement underscores a sentiment shared by many leaders in the region who believe that the legacy of colonialism has hindered their nations' development.

The meetings in London come after Caribbean leaders bristled at the recent suggestion by a U.K. lawmaker that Britain’s former colonies should repay it for its historic investment in them. This statement has been met with widespread criticism, as it overlooks the historical context of exploitation and suffering that characterized colonial rule. Many Caribbean leaders argue that the wealth generated from their lands and labor has never been adequately compensated, leading to persistent inequalities.

The commission noted that the Caribbean has at least 20 territories with ties to Britain, France, the Netherlands, and the United States. This diverse colonial legacy complicates the reparations conversation, as different nations may have different historical relationships with their former colonizers. The complexity of these relationships necessitates a nuanced approach to reparations that takes into account the specific histories and contexts of each territory.

“I am quite sure the people of the Caribbean … will be looking to see whether their king … is going to advance this conversation about sovereignty, decolonization, and reparatory justice for these crimes that have been committed,” Beckles said, referring to King Charles III. The role of the monarchy in addressing these issues has been a topic of debate, with many advocates calling for a more proactive stance from British leadership in acknowledging and addressing the historical injustices of colonialism.

David Comissiong, Barbados’ ambassador to Caricom, echoed those comments, stressing that the first step of reparations must be the recovery of national sovereignty and self-determination. This perspective highlights the interconnectedness of reparations and independence, suggesting that true justice cannot be achieved without full autonomy for Caribbean nations. Comissiong's remarks also indicate a desire for a broader dialogue about the future of these territories, particularly in light of their colonial past.

He said the commission had a “productive meeting” with three senior clerics from the Church of England, calling it a “possible ally.” The Church of England has previously expressed remorse for its historical role in slavery, and its involvement in the reparations conversation could lend significant moral and institutional support to the Caribbean leaders' cause. Comissiong also praised King Charles III for expressing in recent years “personal sorrow at the suffering of so many” as he noted “slavery’s enduring impact.” However, many advocates argue that expressions of sorrow must be accompanied by concrete actions to address the injustices of the past.

However, Comissiong and others criticized the United Kingdom for abstaining from a U.N. resolution passed in March that called for reparations and declared the trafficking of enslaved Africans “the gravest crime against humanity.” All 27 members of the European Union also abstained, while Argentina, Israel, and the United States voted against the resolution. This abstention has raised questions about the commitment of these nations to confront their colonial histories and take responsibility for their actions.

Comissiong noted that some European governments have offered apologies, memorials, museums, and the preservation of slavery infrastructure on Africa’s west coast. While these gestures are steps toward acknowledging the past, many Caribbean leaders believe they fall short of what is needed to address the systemic inequalities that arose from slavery and colonialism. “These are some preliminary gestures that we appreciate,” he said. “But those gestures are not negotiations. … The damage that was done and that still exists today was so consequential, so deeply rooted, that it goes way beyond, way beyond gestures of memorialization.”

An estimated 12 million Africans were forcefully taken by European nations from the 16th to the 19th century, and those who survived the trip across the Atlantic Ocean were enslaved on plantations in the Caribbean and elsewhere under brutal conditions. The legacy of this forced migration and the subsequent exploitation of enslaved Africans has left lasting scars on Caribbean societies, contributing to persistent social and economic disparities. The trauma of slavery is not merely a historical footnote but a lived reality for many descendants of enslaved individuals today.

Commission members spoke during a press conference in London, ahead of the meeting with parliamentarians. Among the questions was whether the commission would publish rules as to who should receive reparations. This inquiry reflects a significant challenge in the reparations discourse, as determining eligibility and the appropriate mechanisms for distributing reparations is a complex issue that requires careful consideration. The answer for the Caribbean remains unclear, although Ron Daniels, head of the National African-American Reparations Commission, said talks in the United States have centered on land, economic development, and the restoration or building of communications and healthcare infrastructure. These discussions in the U.S. provide a potential framework for similar initiatives in the Caribbean, as leaders look for effective ways to address the historical injustices of slavery.

“Reparations is proceeding quite effectively in the United States as a blueprint,” Daniels said, suggesting that the experiences and strategies developed in the U.S. could inform the Caribbean's approach to reparations. The idea of reparations encompasses a range of possibilities, from financial compensation to systemic changes aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of affected communities.

Caricom leaders are seeking a formal apology; education and public health improvements; development programs for Indigenous people; repatriation and resettlement for those seeking to live in their homeland; debt cancellations; and monetary compensations, among other things. These demands reflect a comprehensive approach to reparations that acknowledges the multifaceted impacts of colonialism and slavery, aiming to address both historical grievances and contemporary inequalities.

In early September, Jamaica’s government is expected to file a formal petition asking King Charles III to refer legal questions on slavery reparations to the Privy Council, the island’s final court of appeal. This move marks a significant step in Jamaica's ongoing efforts to seek reparations and signals a commitment to pursuing justice for the historical injustices faced by its citizens. The outcome of this petition could have far-reaching implications for the reparations movement across the Caribbean, potentially setting a legal precedent for other territories seeking similar redress.