GEORGETOWN, Guyana — President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has called for a development-focused approach to reparations for slavery, arguing that the historical injustice cannot be adequately addressed through a monetary valuation alone.
Ali made the remarks in an interview with ITV News presenter Robert Moore ahead of the planned visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Guyana later this month. The visit is expected to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between Guyana and the United Kingdom.
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The Guyanese president said the country would continue advocating for reparations, describing slavery as one of humanity’s greatest injustices. He argued that discussions must move beyond acknowledging the past to addressing the inequalities that continue to affect countries shaped by slavery and colonial exploitation.
“You cannot ever value the type of injustice that took place, and you can never, you know, create a monetary mechanism to address that,” Ali said.
He explained that reparations should include an examination of the development gaps and structural disadvantages inherited by countries whose economies and societies were profoundly affected by slavery.
Ali also addressed calls for Britain to issue a formal apology for its role in the transatlantic slave trade. He said an apology could help create an environment for open discussions but cautioned that it should not be treated as the final step towards reparative justice.
The president proposed that discussions consider practical measures such as debt relief, concessional financing and targeted investment in essential services. These could include education, healthcare, mental health services and climate adaptation, areas in which developing countries often face significant financing constraints.
“This is not payback. This is not vendetta. It is not charity,” Ali said, emphasising that reparations should be approached as a means of recognising historical harm and addressing its continuing consequences.
He questioned the position of countries that accumulated wealth through slavery but now cite financial limitations when confronted with the development needs of nations affected by the trade.
Ali argued that the benefits some countries derived from exploitation must be considered alongside the long-term economic challenges faced by those whose development was disrupted.
The issue of reparations has remained a major concern for Caribbean governments and regional organisations, including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which has advocated for acknowledgement, apology and reparative measures for the enduring consequences of slavery and colonialism.
Guyana’s position also reflects broader regional efforts to secure international support for addressing inequalities in education, healthcare, economic opportunity and climate resilience.
The planned royal visit comes amid renewed attention to Britain’s historical role in the Caribbean and the wider Atlantic slave trade. Ali has described King Charles as a friend and partner of Guyana while maintaining that the legacy of slavery must be addressed through meaningful dialogue and action.
As Guyana prepares to welcome the monarch, the president’s comments place reparations and historical accountability among the issues likely to shape discussions surrounding the two countries’ longstanding relationship.
