CARICOM Demands Britain Finish Decolonization, Seeks Direct Talks with King Charles

The Caribbean has intensified its push for reparatory justice, declaring itself the “most colonized region on Earth” while demanding that the United Kingdom complete the decolonization of its remaining overseas territories and engaging King Charles III in direct discussions on historical accountability.

Speaking during a diplomatic mission to London, the CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC) unveiled its updated CARICOM Ten-Point Plan for Reparatory Justice: A Manifesto for the Coming Enlightenment, placing full and immediate decolonization at the heart of the region’s reparations agenda.

Addressing a media briefing at the University of London’s Senate House, CRC Chairman and University of the West Indies Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, warned that failing to address the legacy of colonialism could fuel a resurgence of modern-day colonization.

“We in the Caribbean remain the most colonized part of the world, and this has to stop,” Beckles declared.

He argued that after centuries of debate, the legal basis for reparatory justice is now firmly established.

“For 300 years, did we have a legal case for reparatory justice? The answer now is yes. The case has been made… The question now is implementation and demand,” he said.

The revised manifesto expands the reparations conversation beyond financial compensation by calling on Britain to grant independence to its remaining Caribbean Overseas Territories, including the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

According to the commission, these territories remain under constitutional arrangements that allow UK-appointed governors to retain ultimate authority over defence, foreign affairs and internal security.

Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM, David Comissiong, said genuine reparations must begin with the restoration of full national sovereignty, describing decolonization as the foundation of historical justice.

Commission leaders also confirmed they are seeking direct talks with King Charles III, urging the British monarch to publicly support the decolonization process and advance discussions on Britain’s responsibility for the legacy of chattel slavery.

The four-day London mission also includes meetings with senior Church of England officials, a presentation to the UK Parliament hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on African Reparations, and discussions with African Union High Commissioners.

With the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting approaching in Antigua and Barbuda, Caribbean leaders say the conversation has moved beyond symbolic acknowledgements and is now focused on securing concrete, legally binding action on reparatory justice and decolonization.

The post CARICOM Demands Britain Finish Decolonization, Seeks Direct Talks with King Charles appeared first on Saint Lucia Daily Post.