A delegation from the Caribbean’s slavery reparations movement is set to make a “historic” first official visit to the United Kingdom next week, aiming to advance calls for reparatory justice for former British colonies.

The six-member delegation, led by Sir Hilary Beckles, vice-chancellor of the University of the West Indies and chair of the CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC), will meet UK parliamentarians, Caribbean diplomats, academics, and civil society groups from 17 to 20 November. The visit is organized in partnership with the Institute of Commonwealth Studies to foster strategic alliances and raise public awareness of the region’s colonial past.

“The Caricom Reparations Commission advocacy visit to the UK is historic, as it is the first of what we anticipate will be a series of engagements to raise consciousness and awareness, correct misconceptions about the reparations movement and build strategic partnerships to take this critical agenda to right historical wrongs forward,” said Hilary Brown, CRC programme manager for culture and community development.

Between the 15th and 19th centuries, more than 12.5 million Africans were kidnapped, transported to the Americas, and sold into slavery. Caribbean governments have long called for recognition of the enduring impacts of colonialism and slavery, demanding a formal apology from former colonizers and various forms of financial reparations.

A new wave of impact

Professor Beckles emphasized the global significance of the visit, highlighting the growing momentum of the reparations movement.

“The global reparations movement is entering a new wave of impact, visibility and mobilisation, and reparations advocacy, grassroots, academics and progressive civil society organisations in Great Britain have a pivotal role to play in amplifying the gains and the message of enlightenment,” he said, adding that the delegation seeks to build solidarity around Windrush and broader reparatory claims.

The issue of reparations has gained prominence in recent years, particularly after last year’s Commonwealth leaders’ summit, where the British government rejected demands for financial reparations or a formal apology. 

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UK willing to discuss non-financial measures

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the slave trade as abhorrent but urged nations to “look forward” and focus on contemporary challenges such as climate change.

Under growing pressure, the UK government has recently indicated willingness to discuss non-financial measures, including restructuring financial institutions and providing debt relief linked to Britain’s historical role in the transatlantic slave trade.

Public awareness in the UK remains limited. A March survey commissioned by the Repair Campaign found that 85% of respondents were unaware that Britain forcibly transported over 3 million Africans to the Caribbean, while 89% did not know that Britain enslaved people in the region for more than 300 years. Despite this, 63% supported a formal apology, and 40% supported financial reparations, a modest increase from the previous year.

Caricom governments have been steadfast in pursuing reparative justice under the CRC’s 10-point plan, which includes a formal apology and debt cancellation. The plan has been recently updated to incorporate new historical and scientific evidence, though details have not yet been released.

At the July summit, Caricom leaders also backed a petition from Jamaica to King Charles, requesting legal advice from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council on whether the forced transport of Africans to Jamaica was lawful, if it constituted a crime against humanity, and whether Britain is obliged to provide redress.

Read more: Commonwealth natives call on the UK King to denounce colonial past