CNN —Commonwealth leaders, ending a week-long summit in Samoa, said on Saturday the time had come for a discussion on whether Britain should commit to reparations for its role in the transatlantic slave trade. The statement also made reference to “blackbirding”, a term for people from places including the Pacific Islands being deceived, coerced or kidnapped to work on plantations in Australia and elsewhere. Those opposed to reparations say countries should not be held responsible for historical wrongs, while those in support say the legacy of slavery has led to vast and persistent racial inequality. The joint statement did not mention what form reparations should take. Stefan Rousseau/Pool/ReutersStarmer told a press conference the joint statement did two things: “It notes calls for discussion and it agrees that this is the time for a conversation.

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Persons: Keir Starmer, ”, blackbirding, Stefan Rousseau, Reuters Starmer, we’ve, Kingsley Abbott, Abbott Organizations: CNN, Commonwealth, Government, British, Caribbean Community, African Union, Reuters, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London, Pacific Locations: Samoa, Britain, Australia, Tuvalu