Antigua and Barbuda

King Charles III opened the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda on Tuesday, calling the transatlantic slave trade a monstrous injustice and saying it still casts a shadow over the islands. He offered personal sorrow but did not pledge an apology or reparations. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he is open to a formal apology and announced a €48.2 million investment in Caribbean infrastructure, while ruling out financial reparations. Small protests outside the venue called for reparatory justice.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham says Britain is open to a formal apology for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, but rejects financial reparations. In an opinion piece in The Guardian, he proposes structured dialogue with affected nations and a drive to restructure debt for the poorest Commonwealth countries, with longer repayment periods and better interest rates. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda is scheduled for 1–4 Nov. King Charles, touring the Caribbean, says it is right to acknowledge past suffering. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne welcomed the comments but said the region's position on reparatory justice is unchanged.

King Charles III arrived in the Bahamas on 27 Oct to start a nine‑day Caribbean tour, with public schools on New Providence closed for the visit. He met Governor‑General Dame Cynthia A. Pratt and Prime Minister Philip Davis, and later said the nation’s culture emerged from darkness, urging acknowledgment of historic injustices. Protesters in Nassau displayed signs demanding payment for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade. The British government and Buckingham Palace have reiterated that neither a formal apology nor financial reparations will be offered, leaving regional leaders to press for action.