KINGSTON, Jamaica— Former Prime Minister PJ Patterson has welcomed the decision to include the question of reparations on the agenda of the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Apia, Samoa.

The meeting is scheduled to begin on October 21, 2024 and run until October 26, 2024.

Patterson, in a message recognising Emancipation Day 2024, said that the support from the nations in the Commonwealth could accelerate the process of implementing reparative justice.

“The firm support by leaders in Africa, the Caribbean, and the wider Commonwealth has the potential to accelerate the process of implementation and to ensure the success of the project on the global stage,” Patterson said.

“This unique family of Nations can place the spotlight on the search for justice at last,” he added, noting that remnants of colonisation persist through continued anti-black racism despite repeated calls by the international community to end racism against all peoples in all lands.

And speaking about the significance of Emancipation Day, which is recognised annually on August 1, the former prime minister said, “This day of great historical significance, commemorates the end of an era of unimaginable suffering and the dawn of freedom for our ancestors, who endured the brutalities of the Transatlantic Trade in enslaved Africans and Chattel enslavement.”

“As we commemorate Emancipation Day, let us honour the legacy of those who fought for our liberty. From the resilience of all indigenous communities and palenques to the relentless advocacy of freedom fighters and abolitionists, our history is undoubtedly a tapestry woven with courage, sacrifice, and unyielding determination,” he added.

He reminded that the struggle of those who fought for freedom laid the foundation for our continued pursuit of justice, equality and empowerment. A fight, Patterson said,  must persists, as he  believes that the inequities in the international political economy are evidently more deeply entrenched, instead of being dismantled.

“It must be emphasised that the fight for liberation extends beyond physical freedom; it encompasses the socio-economic, political, and cultural dimensions of our existence. At the centre of this must be the vociferous fight for reparatory justice and the demand for equality and true sovereignty for nations affected by the scourge of chattel enslavement and colonialism,” Patterson declared.

“We have made some progress over the years in different areas, especially in education, economic growth, trade and development. The bonds that have been built after centuries of forced displacement and subjugation need to be strengthened to create greater rewards from total solidarity and cooperation,” Patterson added.

The next meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government is expected to build on the progress made since the last meeting in 2022. Leaders will deliberate on global economic, environmental and security challenges, and discuss how Commonwealth countries can work together to build resilience, boost trade, innovation, growth and empower the Commonwealth’s 1.5 billion young people for a more peaceful and sustainable future.