Barbados PM Mia Mottley Calls for Unprecedented Slavery Reparation

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley again delivered a powerful speech in London, urging a global conversation on reparations for countries that endured centuries of enslavement under colonial rule. Speaking at the London School of Economics, Mottley emphasized the need to break the “conspiracy of silence” surrounding the horrors faced by enslaved people.

Barbados, once a British slave colony, witnessed the exploitation of African slaves in a sugar plantation economy until slavery’s abolition in 1834. Achieving full independence in 1966 and republic status in 2021, Barbados remains part of the Commonwealth.

During her visit, Mottley met with the new British Foreign Minister, David Cameron, but did not disclose details of discussions on reparations. Referencing Britain’s acknowledgment of the wrongs of slavery by King Charles during a visit to Rwanda, Mottley called for a similar dialogue.

Mottley, a prominent advocate for global issues, including climate change and inequality, highlighted the importance of global taxes on financial services, oil, gas, and shipping to aid poorer nations affected by climate change. She urged collective action, emphasizing the need for a transformative shift in behavior on a global scale.