Caribbean leaders demand slavery reparations, not more talk

With centuries of silence behind them and global momentum finally on their side, Caribbean leaders say the time for polite conversations about slavery reparations has passed, and, the era of demands has begun.

Calls for reparations are no longer just echoing through diplomatic halls, they’re demanding action.

Speaking in New York on Tuesday, Hilary Brown, a representative of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), urged world leaders to move beyond symbolic gestures and address the legacy of slavery with tangible redress. Her remarks came during the second day of the United Nations’ Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.

“Enough talk, time for concrete results,” Brown said, as she called on former colonial powers to be held accountable for centuries of exploitation.

The momentum for reparations has grown steadily in recent years, especially from CARICOM and the African Union (AU), who now speak with one voice. Their joint advocacy has created what Brown described as a “defining moment,” an opportunity to push for reparations at the highest levels of global governance.

CARICOM’s ten-point plan includes demands for technology transfers, investments in healthcare, and education reform to address the lasting scars of slavery. The AU is drafting its own framework, but the shared vision is clear: financial justice and formal recognition of historical wrongdoing.

At least 12.5 million Africans were enslaved and transported across the Atlantic between the 15th and 19th centuries. Advocates argue that modern states still benefit from the wealth created during that period, and that moral responsibility cannot be dismissed as ancient history.

Brown urged the United Nations and other intergovernmental bodies to support a global platform for reparations. One proposal includes a joint UN resolution and a high-level political forum focused on the issue.

“CARICOM is ready to take this agenda to the next level,” she said, adding that the partnership with the African Union could help ensure “Europe is held to account.”

Resistance remains stiff. Many European governments have opposed even discussing reparations, often citing legal and logistical complexities. Critics argue that today’s governments should not bear responsibility for the actions of their ancestors.

But for supporters like Brown, the issue is not about blame, it’s about repair. About acknowledging the systems of oppression that still echo today, from structural racism to unequal access to healthcare and education.

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