London (Britain) – Commonwealth Nations made history by adopting their inaugural Ocean Declaration for One Resilient Common Future at a summit in Samoa.
This Declaration was unveiled at the conclusion of the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). It urges all 56 Commonwealth Nations to safeguard the oceans against serious challenges such as climate change, pollution, and over-exploitation.
While the environmental threat was foreshadowed as a predominant theme going into the summit, the transatlantic slave trade from Britain’s colonial history dominated the discourse through the opening days. There are demands from some of Britain’s former colonies for accountability on its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, particularly concerning reparative justice.
At its peak in the 18th century, Britain was the largest slave-trading Nation, transporting over 3 million Africans across the Atlantic.
No one can change the past : King Charles III
“I understand that this kind of demand for compensation is due to the lasting painful effects of the past, the resonance of which, we must listen to even today. No one can change the past, but we are committed to reform discrimination by taking lessons from the past.”
The British Government rejects the demand
The British Government is facing financial crisis. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived at the summit with a commitment that the UK would not apologize for slavery or entertain discussions on reparations.