They were forceably abducted from their homes, marched in chains, crammed into unbearably overcrowded ships, and sent overseas into new lives of back-breaking servitude. And in the Caribbean, where many of these African slaves were sent to work, the legacy of this brutal trade still reverberates over 150 years later. The 14 leaders of Caricom, the region's collective body, met on Monday to discuss legal action against Britain, France and the Netherlands over their role in the slave trade. They are demanding a formal apology and payments of billions, although an exact figure has not been released. Caribbean countries say they still suffer from the effects of slavery, which created deep social inequalities and hampered economic development. Persistent poverty and poor literacy levels in the region are attributed to colonialWhen a region or country is controlled politically by another. neglect. Some historians object and argue that this claim oversimplifies the issue — while European plantationA big farm in a hot part of the world on which crops such as coffee, sugar and tobacco are grown. owners did benefit from slavery, almost 90% of those shipped to the colonies were enslaved by other Africans. And when Britain abolished its slave trade in 1807, the Royal Navy enforced the ban by shutting down the slave trade routes and seizing slave ships at sea, regardless of where the slaves were bound. So while Britain's involvement in the slave trade is shameful, latterly the country became a champion for change. Others say justice demands more action now: Britain did pay compensation worth an incredible 40% of the Treasury's budget after abolitionWhen something is banned, or finally stopped. — but not to the slaves. Instead it went to slave owners to reimburse them for the loss of their "property". Supporters of the Caribbean bid for compensation also point out that the UK recently paid 20m to apologise for the brutal suppression of the Mau MauIn the 1950s, just before the end of British rule, rebels from the Kenyan Kikuyu tribe rose up against the colonial government which had taken away their land. The Mau Mau were widely accused of atrocities of their own, but these were eclipsed by the brutality of the British government’s response. uprising in Kenya in the 1950s, but in that case, the money went to living survivors and their families. It is much harder to know who deserves to be paid for slavery over a hundred years ago. Some argue that while slavery remains a deplorable stain on Europe's history, we cannot punish present generations for past actions which were taken according to an entirely different moral code. If countries start paying reparations for historic crimes, where do we stop? Could Britain sue Denmark for Viking attacks? Slaves were treated appallingly, but Britain's working classes also lived in terrible conditions during the industrial revolution; should they be compensated as well? Others reply that much of Europe's prosperity was built by exploiting slaves — it is only right to repay their ancestors today. There is no expiry date on such a crime. Europe should both apologise and redistribute some of its wealth. Q & A Is slavery still a problem? The descendants of people who were forced into slavery can feel that it still has a negative impact on their lives. In America, where slave ownership and abolition prompted the civil war, relations between the races is still one of the defining issues in politics today. And slavery still continues — the UN estimates that up to 30 million people around the world are currently enslaved. What else are campaigners demanding reparations for?:Many developing countries, led by India, are demanding that the developed world pays into a 120 billion climate change fund, on the grounds that industrialised nations emitted CO2 emissions as they pursued prosperity: if they want poorer countries to skip this environmentally damaging method of progress, they should foot the bill.KeywordsColonial - When a region or country is controlled politically by another.
Caribbean nations demand slavery compensation
Glossary
Colonial - When a region or country is controlled politically by another.
Plantation - A big farm in a hot part of the world on which crops such as coffee, sugar and tobacco are grown.
Abolition - When something is banned, or finally stopped.
Mau Mau - In the 1950s, just before the end of British rule, rebels from the Kenyan Kikuyu tribe rose up against the colonial government which had taken away their land. The Mau Mau were widely accused of atrocities of their own, but these were eclipsed by the brutality of the British government’s response.