Antigua and Barbuda PM says Burnham should offer reparations

The prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda has insisted Andy Burnham should agree to pay reparations over the UK’s role in the transatlantic slave trade, urging him to go further than an apology.

Gaston Browne warned there could be a repeat of the past “atrocities” in the future if reparations are not paid and said he believes Antigua’s next head of state should be Antiguan, rather than a British monarch.

It comes as King Charles visits the Caribbean islands ahead of the opening of a Commonwealth summit on Tuesday, which is expected to be dominated by talks about the issue of slavery.

Mr Burnham has signalled he would be open to exploring the possibility of a formal apology over the UK’s role in the slave trade, but has shut down any suggestion that reparations will be paid.

But speaking to ITV News, Mr Browne said: “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 just does not negate the need for reparations.

“If there’s no compensation, there’s likely to be a repeat of those atrocities sometime in the future, and you can see what is happening globally already.”

Mr Browne’s views echo those of fellow Caribbean leaders, with St Lucia’s Prime Minister Philip J Pierre, chairman of the 15-member Caribbean Community (Caricom), reportedly saying the Caribbean-based economic and political bloc was “ready to engage” in the structured dialogue Mr Burnham offered.

“No British prime minister has gone this far before… we are ready to engage,” he wrote.

But he added: “A dialogue that begins by placing reparations outside the room cannot be a complete dialogue.”

Mr Burnham has offered “structured dialogue” with those affected by the transatlantic slave trade and expressed “my sorrow and regret for the pain and suffering of so many millions” but has ruled out considering financial reparations.

But Tory leader Kemi Badenoch urged the prime minister not to apologise because she said it would lead to more demands for reparations, which UK politicians of all stripes have opposed.

Mr Browne said the Caribbean nations were not “coming for Britain”, suggesting money could be found in Britain’s overseas development budget.

Charles is making a nine-day tour of the Caribbean, and when he arrived in the Bahamas on Tuesday, his first leg, the King acknowledged the “great suffering of the past” and confirmed the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) would discuss the legacy of slavery.

Antigua’s prime minister said he had great respect for the King but spoke of his nation becoming a republic.

He told ITV News: “I can say to you, I am a republican.

“So if you asked me about my personal view, I would like to see Antigua and Barbuda become a republic… but I have to recognise and accept the fact that there are certain constitutional provisions to become a republic, and that, ultimately, it is the decision of the people to determine whether or not we become a republic.”