The recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting concluded with a ground-breaking declaration written into the Samoa Communique, an historic statement uniting Commonwealth leaders in the call for reparatory justice.

This declaration, an outcome of determined negotiation, is more than a symbolic statement. Moving forward, it is a foundation for sustained dialogue and genuine engagement in healing historical injustices.

As Sir Hilary Beckles has asserted, the moral and economic debt owed to those nations most impacted by colonial exploitation remains a crucial issue on the path to justice. He has also asserted that Britain, having built its empire on the unpaid labour and dispossession of millions, has a moral obligation to recognise this debt as a starting point for engagement on reparations.

At the CHOGM summit, Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged the horrors of slavery, but downplayed the reparations language, stressing, “none of the discussions have been about money”. His reluctance to support financial reparations is evident, and his cautious approach, while politically expedient, contrasts starkly with the global calls for reparative justice.

Despite this reluctance, the communique’s declaration represents a commitment within the Commonwealth to pursue reparations, standing out as a moment of writing back by the collective voices in Britain’s former colonies.

For these leaders, reparatory justice is about more than financial compensation; it is a call for partnerships that acknowledge the generational impacts of exploitation, and to address systemic inequities.

The declaration in the Samoa Communique reflects more than the horrors of Atlantic slavery alone; it acknowledges a wider colonial reckoning that includes Indigenous displacement, Indentureship, and exploitation like “blackbirding”, which occurred in the Pacific.

This holistic view speaks to a growing unity in our Commonwealth family, particularly from Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, as we advocate for a future based on equity and acknowledgment of past wrongs.

It would not be an easy road, but as Patricia Scotland, outgoing Commonwealth Secretary-General noted, the Commonwealth has always confronted difficult issues, and reparations have now joined that important list.

It must be noted that Britain’s reluctance to engage on reparations signals a missed opportunity. While financial reparations are contentious, Sir Hilary and the Caricom Reparations Commission have proposed reparations that include debt forgiveness, educational investment, and equitable trade partnerships, all of which are achievable pathways toward justice and progress for former colonies.

At best, this means that Britain’s position against this broader, restorative framework is short-sighted.

The Commonwealth’s collective action in Samoa signifies a steady momentum of a global call for reparations that cannot be ignored. Increasingly, nations and communities are recognising the need for substantive, restorative action.

Sir Hilary articulates this sentiment well, asserting that reparations are about forging a future based on “truthful and respectful conversation” rooted in equity. His voice, alongside those like Prime Minister Philip Davis of the Bahamas, reminds us that reparations mean addressing generational wounds and healing collective histories, not simply distributing funds.

Britain has a unique opportunity to lead on reparations within the Commonwealth, strengthening its moral credibility on the world stage. By embracing a sincere reparations dialogue, this former Empire could transform its spoken historical acknowledgment into actions reflecting modern values of justice, accountability, and fairness.

The Samoa Communique represents a milestone for Commonwealth nations, urging Britain to go beyond expressions of remorse, and to engage with a tangible commitment to address colonial history’s lasting effects.

It also signals an irreversible shift. If Britain values our Caribbean region, the Commonwealth, and the ideals that we hold, then it would do well to heed our collective call.