Reparations and Reconciliation: Unpacking the Commonwealth’s Divided Legacy

Parliamentarians have been discussing the Commonwealth’s colonial legacy and how best to address these issues for the future. This new CPA blog article explores these issues and the discussions taking place. 

Articles posted on 05/02/2025.

Main image: Benin Bronzes (credit shutterstock_2175043265_Mltz).

At the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa, the issue of colonial reparations sparked a public debate on the history of colonialism and how it is discussed today. The Head of the Commonwealth, King Charles III, in a significant moment of acknowledgement, publicly recognised the "painful" history of the British Empire's role in slavery, offering a statement that seemed to open the door for further discussions on addressing our colonial history and the issue of reparations.  

The UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer insisted the discussions should “look forward”, focusing on contemporary issues rather than revisiting historical wrongs. Similarly, the UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy framed reparations as not being about direct monetary payments, emphasising partnerships and skills-sharing instead.

However, other Commonwealth leaders, such as the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley and the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, have strongly advocated for reparatory justice, highlighting the need for financial compensation as well as structural reforms. 

Conversely, some critics argue that addressing the legacies of colonialism should focus on development partnerships rather than financial payments. Others contend that it is impractical or unfair to hold present generations accountable for historical actions, suggesting that such discussions may deepen divides rather than promote unity. For instance, former UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has explicitly rejected the idea of direct payments (BBC news). These views highlight the complexity of achieving consensus on this contentious issue. 

This conversation is also reignited as some Caribbean nations continue to champion the cause of reparations. The reparations conversation is multi-faceted and deeply involved with the complex legacies of colonialism. This blog surveys the recent debate on reparations and outlines the various approaches proposed by governments, courts and civil society organisations to date.  

Overcoming and addressing the colonial past 

At the recent 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, Parliamentarians addressed the issues around the Commonwealth’s colonial legacy at a World Café session.  

Discussion Leader, Hon. Corine George-Massicote, MHA, Speaker of the House of Assembly of the British Virgin Islands highlighted the importance of acknowledging that to some communities, colonialism is not in the periphery of their past but is instead an enduring and complicated reality that is being presently experienced. While some member nations may have 'moved on', others continue to feel and suffer from the effects of colonialism.  

Participants recognised the complex legacy of colonialism within Commonwealth jurisdictions and that it is beneficial to have honest and open conversations as a starting point, before considering any reparations or redress. This can help identify who should be responsible to help overcome the effects of colonialism and how it should be addressed.   

Parliamentarians also recognised that education could play a key role in bridging the disconnect between younger generations' understanding of colonialism and the historical context within which older generations have made decisions that have impacted nations.  

• Read more about the CPA’s World Café session which discussed several topic including colonial legacy, global stability and conflict, climate change and assisted dying. 

Financial Reparations  

In Barbados, the push for reparations has been spearheaded by the Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, and the Barbados National Task Force on Reparations, which operates under the umbrella of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Reparations Commission.

Commentators in Barbados have suggested that descendants of slave owners may be held financially accountable for the brutal exploitation of enslaved Africans, and many are pushing for a form of reparations that would involve direct financial compensation to their descendants, with estimates ranging from US$5 to US$10 trillion in damages.  

High-profile cases like the demands from Barbados, and also Jamaica's National Council on Reparations, for damages from landowner Richard Drax, a former UK MP, whose ancestors were linked to the ownership of enslaved people in both Barbados and Jamaica, have sparked global discussions on the nature and scope of reparations (BBC news).

The scale of some of these proposals is significant, with one academic report from the University of the West Indies suggesting that Britain could owe as much as £18 trillion to its former colonies (The Independent UK).

In addition to government-led initiatives, Parliamentarians across the Commonwealth are beginning to engage with these issues. Jamaican MP, Olivia Grange, has campaigned for reparations, including the return of cultural artefacts taken during colonial rule, as part of a broader acknowledgment of historical wrongs. Moreover, Jamaica's National Council on Reparations was established in 2009, helping to conduct a national approach. 

Institutional Reparations  

Another approach involves redress from institutions that profited from slavery.

For example, the Church of England recently announced its intention to create a £100 million fund to address its historical links to slavery (BBC news).

Glasgow University too has pledged funds to make amends for its role in the slave trade through a programme of restorative justice through funding for a joint centre for development research with the University of the West Indies (The Guardian UK).

Institutional reparations would not only take the form of financial amounts but could also include investments in education, community programmes and initiatives that empower the descendants of enslaved people.  

The National Trust in the UK, which manages sites of historic significance in England and Wales, is another organisation attempting to confront its colonial roots. Through its interim report, the National Trust highlights how wealth from estates, like Penrhyn and Chirk Castles, were shaped by the impact of slavery and its trade (National Trust report on colonial links). The National Trust is re-evaluating its collections tied to colonialism, such as those from the East India Company, and collaborating with diverse communities and marginalised voices to encourage more inclusive interpretations and curation.  

Structural Reparations  

Former colonial powers, such as the UK, France and Belgium, imposed significant debts on newly independent nations, contributing to a cycle of poverty and difficulty accumulating capital. Debt forgiveness has been proposed as a form of structural reparations, particularly by nations like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Haiti.

At present, over 770 million Africans live in countries where interest payments on debt exceed spending on basic healthcare. As Debt Justice highlights in their briefing, several economies operate in ways that benefit wealthy nations while keeping poorer countries trapped in cycles of debt and poverty (Debt Justice report).

Reparations in this form might consist of a bridge facility as in the proposal from the Finance for Development Lab, where struggling economies can defer payments until conditions improve (Finance for Development Lab report). Alternatively, Debt Relief for Green and Inclusive Recovery proposes more radical debt restructuring, with creditors ‘taking haircuts’ of between US $90-100 billion dollars to be offset by a capital injection of bonds linked to environmental investments (Debt Relief for a Green and Inclusive Recovery report).  

Repatriation of Artefacts  

The return of cultural artefacts expropriated during the colonial era is another key area of focus. Museums in the UK, Europe and the US hold substantial collections of items taken during the colonial period, many of which have deep cultural significance for the countries where they were created (El Pais English edition). 

UNESCO estimates that 90 to 95% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s cultural artefacts are held in collections outside the continent. The recent return of African artefacts to countries like Nigeria and Benin has been hailed as a positive step toward reparative justice. Other museums have lent objects that were taken from former colonies on long term loans. 

Debates continue, however, with institutions like the British Museum and the Tower of London retaining contested treasures such as the Benin Bronzes and the Koh-i-Noor diamond.  

Reconciliation 

Reparations aim to address past wrongs, while reconciliation focuses on healing relationships between former colonisers and the colonised. Many argue that alongside reparations, efforts like commemorations and educational programmes are crucial to fully addressing colonial legacies. 

Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which addressed the abuse of Indigenous children in residential schools, provides a key example (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada website). The TRC documented survivors' experiences and issued ‘Calls to Action’ to foster awareness and repair relationships. This model demonstrates how reconciliation can complement reparations by promoting dialogue and collective healing across nations with shared colonial histories. 

A Global Movement for Reparations  

The debate over reparations is far from settled. While global political and economic inequalities persist, so will the calls for redress from within the Commonwealth. The UK, its institutions and other former colonial powers must increasingly confront how they should address continuing colonial legacies.   

This blog article was written by Miral Pankhania, Communications and Office Administrator and Oz Russell, Communications Officer at the CPA Headquarters Secretariat. 

To read more of the CPA's blogs and articles then please click here.