Britain’s King Charles III on Tuesday opened the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, a summit of 56 Commonwealth leaders, by discussing the tragic legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.
Charles told those gathered that he had deepened his “own understanding of the issues by listening, learning and watching.”
“The transatlantic slave trade still casts a shadow over these islands and other members of our Commonwealth. As I have said before, this shameful chapter in history fills my heart with horror and my soul with the deepest personal sadness.”
The monarch did not apologize for Britain’s role in this dark trade, or even refrain from any discussion of reparations. Instead, he spoke of the need to look to the future when tackling the “monstrous injustice” of the past to ensure that “evil need not have the last word.”
Will the UK apologize for slavery and offer reparations?
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who is also attending, has previously said he might be open to an apology, and the lead-up to the summit has been dominated by talk of an apology and possible financial reparations.
The king and prime minister spoke of using the summit as an opportunity to address future partnerships by developing approaches to address health care, education and climate protection needs among those “struggling with hardship and disadvantage” rather than dwelling on the past.
“We cannot change the actions of those who came before us,” the monarch said as he opened Tuesday’s session. “We can, however, learn lessons from the past.”
Burnham said he would like to discuss debt resets for smaller Commonwealth countries and announce an investment of 48.2 million euros ($54 million) in critical infrastructure in the Caribbean over the next three years.
What was the role of the British Empire in the transatlantic slave trade?
The British joined the institutionalized slave trade in the 17th century and quickly eclipsed other European powers before participation in the trade was prohibited to British subjects by the Slave Trade Act of 1807, and subsequently suppressed in the British Empire as a whole by the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833.
During this period, Britain manned nearly a third of all transatlantic voyages with slaves, facilitating the forced transportation of more than 3.2 million Africans, primarily to British colonies in the Caribbean and North America.
The Commonwealth of Nations is made up largely of former British colonies whose combined GDP of around $14.5 trillion represents around 15% of the global economy.
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