A groundbreaking survey by The Repair Campaign reveals an unprecedented consensus across the Caribbean regarding colonial reparations and historical education. The 2025 study demonstrates that 83% of Jamaicans and Barbadians specifically advocate for sustained financial commitments from former colonial powers including Britain, France, and the Netherlands, citing centuries of resource extraction during colonial rule.
The research, marking the organization’s third anniversary coinciding with the UN’s International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, exposes critical educational gaps concerning colonial history. Merely 41% of Caribbean respondents received education about chattel slavery in primary schools, with only 35% encountering this history during secondary education. This knowledge deficit extends to European nations, where 85% of UK participants were unaware that over three million Africans were forcibly transported to the Caribbean during the transatlantic slave trade.
An extraordinary 89% of Caribbean respondents emphasized the necessity of incorporating comprehensive colonial history into local educational curricula. The Repair Campaign, operating under CARICOM’s 10-Point Plan for Reparatory Justice, has significantly advanced this movement through extensive outreach. Their efforts include approximately 280 engagements with civil society and governmental entities across Caribbean and European regions, plus over 100 high-level political meetings spanning 20 nations.
The campaign’s digital strategy has reached over five million individuals through social media platforms, while gathering more than 20,000 signatures petitioning the UK government for formal apologies and reparative justice. Founder Denis O’Brien contextualized these efforts, stating: ‘The legacy of transatlantic enslavement, colonialism, and Indigenous genocide continues to profoundly shape the social, economic, and political realities of the Caribbean today. Historical injustices persist through structural inequalities, economic vulnerabilities, and social disparities.’
Campaign Manager Brian Royes announced forthcoming initiatives: ‘In 2026, we will place renewed focus on energizing Caribbean governments to formally demand apologies from UK and European governments for their role in chattel slavery. This constitutes a critical first step toward achieving deep, long-lasting improvement for millions across the Caribbean.’
The movement frames these financial investments and educational reforms as essential components for achieving reparatory justice and sustainable development throughout the region.