CARICOM has renewed its call for the decolonization of the Caribbean, placing the issue at the center of its updated Reparatory Justice Manifesto.
The revised document, endorsed by Caribbean leaders, argues that the region remains the most colonized part of the world, with several British, French, Dutch, and American territories still lacking full sovereignty.
Speaking in London, Sir Hilary Beckles, Chairman of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, called on King Charles III and former colonial powers to support decolonization alongside reparations. He said the Caribbean's remaining colonies should have the opportunity to determine their own political future and warned that colonialism continues to deny people full self-determination.
The manifesto specifically calls on countries that still administer Caribbean territories to listen to the wishes of their African-descended and Indigenous populations regarding independence, self-government, and reparatory justice.
The proposal has sparked debate in some Overseas Territories. In Bermuda, legal experts questioned whether the position reflects the wishes of residents, noting that many currently support maintaining their constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom. Bermuda's government also clarified that, as an associate member of CARICOM, it was not involved in drafting the reparations manifesto.
The updated document expands beyond financial reparations to include constitutional reform, climate justice, and decolonization, reinforcing CARICOM's position that political self-determination and reparatory justice are inseparable parts of the region's future.