Prime Minister Gaston Browne has called for a time limit on proposed talks over slavery reparations, saying discussions must be structured and inclusive to help Britain and Caribbean countries resolve their differences.
Speaking in an interview ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, Browne welcomed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s willingness to work towards a formal apology for Britain’s role in the slave trade.
However, he said he did not expect leaders to reach agreement on reparations at the summit.
“I do not believe that we will be able to come to a consensus at this CHOGM,” Browne said, expressing hope that the proposed dialogue would provide a way to find common ground.
He said Caribbean countries wanted an inclusive process that was “time-bound, so that we can have serious discussions about this issue and to come to some consensus.”
Browne did not propose a specific deadline for completing the talks.
While acknowledging the political difficulties facing the British government, he maintained that those challenges did not remove the need for reparations.
“I understand the politics in the UK in which it may be a difficult proposition for him to agree to any form of reparations, but that does not negate the need for reparations,” he said.
Browne suggested that Britain could redirect part of its existing overseas development assistance budget towards Caribbean development, rather than commit additional money.
He said debt restructuring could form part of the response, although differences remained over compensation.
“We’re not asking Britain to allocate additional resources. We’re asking for a partial reallocation of some of its ODA budget,” he said.
The prime minister argued that a sustained development programme could help address the effects of slavery and colonialism, even if Britain did not describe the assistance as reparations.
“You don’t have to call it reparations, but there has to be a systematic programme of funding to help to develop this region,” he said.
Browne also rejected the suggestion that Burnham’s change in approach was simply intended to ease tensions during his visit to Antigua and Barbuda.
He said Caribbean hosts had already given assurances that discussions would be conducted responsibly, without bitterness or animosity.
“We take them at face value,” Browne said of the British leader’s remarks.
Despite the differences over compensation, he expressed confidence that continued dialogue could produce an agreement over time.
He also suggested that an announcement of development assistance for the Caribbean during the summit would be welcomed as a gesture of goodwill.
Source: Antigua News Room PM Gaston Browne wants deadline for slavery reparations talks.