【Text by Observers Network, Chen Sijia】On November 17 local time, the Caribbean Community Reparations Committee delegation made its first visit to the UK, discussing with British officials and politicians how to address issues left over from Western colonialism. According to Reuters, the delegation called on the UK government on the 18th, urging Britain to help Caribbean nations clean up the "mess caused by the West".

Hilary Beckles, chairman of the Caribbean Community Reparations Committee, said in a press conference that the committee is not seeking aid through this visit, but hopes the UK will become a "strategic partner" in supporting the Caribbean Community to deal with historical issues.

He pointed out that Britain plundered a large amount of wealth and resources from the Caribbean region, which created today's Britain. However, the historical legacy of slavery continues to hinder the development of the Caribbean region, leading to unjust debt accumulation and challenges in health and education. He believes that the UK can help Caribbean countries solve problems such as illiteracy and extreme poverty through compensation and other means.

Beckles said the Caribbean Community does not seek the same "predatory agenda" as the UK, and the reparations campaign aims to promote cooperation between former colonies and former colonizers. He said: "You should help us clean up the mess you have created, so we can move forward together." He called for a summit between the UK and the Caribbean Community to discuss reparations, saying "the UK should not be divided on the issue of reparations for the Caribbean region".

Hilary Beckles, chairman of the Caribbean Community Reparations Committee, The Guardian

David Comissiong, representative of Barbados to the Caribbean Community, said the committee's goal is not only the UK, but also all former European colonial countries involved in the slave trade. He said: "Whoever was involved, we hope you can sit down and talk."

The visit of the Caribbean Community Reparations Committee to the UK will last until November 20 local time. The delegation will meet with diplomats from the Caribbean Community and the African Union, as well as some British officials, MPs, scholars, and civil society organizations.

Reuters reported that between the 15th and 19th centuries, at least 12.5 million Africans were kidnapped, forcibly transported, and sold as slaves by European merchants. In recent years, more and more countries and activists have called on Western countries to make reparations. The Caribbean Community is developing a reparations plan, including measures such as calling on Western countries to formally apologize, launch educational and cultural projects, and provide monetary compensation.

Previously, a report by the University of the West Indies and the American consulting firm Brattle Group estimated that due to decades of colonial exploitation of Caribbean countries, the UK should compensate 1.88 trillion pounds, while other former colonial countries such as the US, Portugal, Spain, and France are also accused of needing to compensate a total of about 10.3 trillion pounds.

However, some European leaders refuse to discuss the issue of reparations, and opponents claim that today's European countries and governments should not be held responsible for historical mistakes. Last October, before the start of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, UK Prime Minister Starmer said he would rather "look to the future" than participate in "long and endless discussions on historical reparations".

At the time, the summit issued a joint statement saying: "It is time for meaningful, genuine, and respectful dialogue to build a common future based on fairness." But Starmer said after the meeting that the UK's position was "very clear", that it would not pay reparations.

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7574346781694181922/

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