Amid rising demands for reparations, Britain has firmly dismissed calls from Caribbean nations for billions in compensation for slavery. Ahead of the Commonwealth summit in Samoa, Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley leads a coalition of nations insisting reparations should be part of a new global agenda. However, No10 has reiterated that reparations are “not on the agenda” and confirmed the UK’s stance on refusing to compensate.
Mottley has previously estimated Barbados is owed £3.9 trillion from former colonial powers, but her stance has raised questions. While advocating for reparations, Barbados continues its close ties with China, despite global scrutiny over human rights abuses. Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a prominent Tory MP, called it “ironic” for nations allied with China, given its track record of forced labor and alleged human rights violations, to demand reparations.
As the summit approaches, Mottley’s bid for reparations has sparked both support and criticism, setting the stage for potential tensions within the Commonwealth.
