King Charles acknowledges 'painful' slavery past as calls for reparations intensify
King Charles said the Commonwealth should acknowledge its “painful” history, as African and Caribbean nations push for reparations for Britain’s role in transatlantic slavery.
APIA, Samoa — King Charles said Friday that the Commonwealth should acknowledge its “painful” history, as African and Caribbean nations push for reparations for Britain’s role in transatlantic slavery.
Representatives of 56 countries, most with roots in Britain’s empire, are attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that began in Samoa on Monday, with slavery and the threat of climate change emerging as major themes.
“I understand from listening to people across the Commonwealth how the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate,” Charles said in a speech to the summit.
“It is vital, therefore, that we understand our history, to guide us towards making the right choices in future.”
The demand for former colonial powers such as Britain to pay reparations or make other amends for slavery and its legacies today is a longstanding one, but has gained momentum worldwide, particularly among the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the African Union.
Rating: 5