Antigua and Barbuda joined CARICOM in observing the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery. On this day, the CARICOM Reparations Commission honours the 15 million African men, women, and children who suffered chattel enslavement for over three centuries.

Furthermore, the Commission remembers the horrors of the Middle Passage, the brutality of slavery, and the denial of freedom, dignity, and humanity. At the same time, it celebrates the courage and resistance of enslaved Africans against European domination.

Through the CARICOM Ten Point Plan for Reparations, member states pursue restitution and compensation. Consequently, they advocate for comprehensive programs to repair the lasting harm caused by slavery and structural racism.

Moreover, the Commission emphasizes that slavery, trafficking, and genocide were deliberately orchestrated to fuel Europe’s growth while undermining Africa and the Caribbean. Thus, these historical systems continue to influence global inequality today.

In addition, CARICOM welcomes the African Union’s declaration of the Decade for Reparations (2026–2035). This commitment strengthens the global reparations movement and encourages collaboration between Africa, the Caribbean, and the wider diaspora.

Also, the Commission calls for continued dialogue, advocacy, and public education. Indeed, the struggle for reparatory justice is at a pivotal moment, with increasing global awareness and growing support from Global Africa.

Furthermore, the Commission celebrates the resilience of ancestors who endured slavery and the transatlantic trafficking of Africans. Consequently, it urges the international community to repair these harms, acknowledging that justice for victims is justice for humanity.

CARICOM created the Reparations Commission to establish the moral, ethical, and legal case for reparations. Accordingly, it seeks compensation from former colonial powers and related institutions for crimes of genocide, slavery, and racialized oppression.

Since its establishment in 1973, CARICOM has worked to integrate its fifteen Member States and six Associate Members. Moreover, it focuses on economic integration, foreign policy coordination, human development, and security cooperation.

Finally, CARICOM aims to create a unified, resilient community that promotes human rights, social justice, and prosperity for all citizens. Thus, Antigua and Barbuda’s participation reinforces regional solidarity and the collective call for reparatory justice.