A delegation of Caribbean leaders met with senior clergy from the Church of England in London to discuss reparations for the historical enslavement of African people. The representatives, including members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Reparations Commission, requested that the church and the British government provide financial and developmental support to address the lasting economic impact of the transatlantic slave trade.
In addition to financial reparations, the Caribbean officials called for an end to the territorial status of several islands that remain British Overseas Territories. The group argued that full decolonization is a necessary step toward regional self-determination. The meetings follows previous acknowledgments by the Church of England regarding its historical ties to slavery through the South Sea Company.
Church of England officials stated they are listening to the proposals and cited existing initiatives, such as a £100 million fund established in 2023 to address past wrongs through investment in affected communities. British government representatives have previously expressed regret for the slave trade but have generally resisted calls for direct financial reparations, focused instead on contemporary diplomatic and developmental partnerships.