A Call for Justice: The Caribbean’s Demand for Reparations from the UK

Caribbean Reparations Commission

“Reparations justice is not only about financial compensation but about truth, healing, and the righting of historical wrongs for future generations.”

For the Caribbean, these legacies have left a deep and lasting impact on their societies—widening disparities, stifling economic growth, and creating systemic social issues that persist today.

This demand isn’t solely about addressing past grievances; it’s about building a future where Caribbean nations can thrive without the burdens of colonial legacies.

 Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados

“For us to move forward, we must be able to reckon with the past and repair the damage that continues to affect generations of Caribbean people.”

The UK, which was heavily involved in the transatlantic slave trade and benefited enormously from the labour and resources extracted from the Caribbean, finds itself at the centre of this call for reparations.

Advocates argue that Britain’s wealth was, in part, built on the backs of enslaved Caribbean’s and Africans, thus, the UK has a moral obligation to support the Caribbean’s development through reparative justice.

Yet, the British Government has largely refrained from engaging in any formal reparations discussion, citing concerns about the complexities of historical accountability and the economic scale of such measures.

Nonetheless, the UK’s acknowledgment of its colonial history and involvement in reparative justice could lead to transformative change.

 David Lammy, Foreign Secretary, speaking in Nigeria this week said “It’s not about the transfer of cash, particularly at a time of a cost of living crisis around much of the globe, and certainly in the UK, he further stated “I am the descendent of enslaved people, so I recognise that”

It is clear that the UK has a moral duty to face up to its role in the transatlantic slave trade and address the profound inequalities that stem from that history.

This debate is something that people from the Caribbean want and will have. So the Government of the day will need to think about how to manage this in a profoundly practical and productive way.

Britain’s towns and city and company was, in part, enslaved Caribbean’s

Many UK cities, including Bristol, Liverpool, and Glasgow, owe parts of their wealth to the exploitation of enslaved Caribbean people.

Bristol was a major port for the transatlantic slave trade, dealing in sugar and rum produced on Caribbean plantations. Liverpool’s economy also flourished through trade, with families profiting from enslaved labour.

Glasgow’s “Tobacco Lords” reaped fortunes from Caribbean-grown tobacco, funded by slave labour. Even in London, firms like Lloyd’s of London and banks like the Bank of England were involved, insuring slave voyages. Today, many towns are reflecting on this dark legacy, acknowledging and confronting these histories.  

By actively addressing this call—whether through financial reparations, educational initiatives, or collaborative economic development programs—the UK could demonstrate genuine accountability and foster a renewed relationship with the Caribbean.

Such actions could be a powerful statement of historical reckoning, shifting the dynamics of former colonial relationships toward a partnership based on respect and shared progress.

For the Caribbean, it would mean the potential to overcome past injustices and move toward a self-sustained, prosperous future.

Caribbean Voices for Labour has a plan