British Bill on the Chagos: Timeline Rescheduled for November 18 and 25

Title: British Bill on the Chagos: Timeline Rescheduled for November 18 and 25

Content: The British bill regarding the restitution of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has been reintroduced on the agenda of the House of Lords after being suspended on November 5. Port Louis has sent Attorney General Gavin Glover to negotiate security and environmental aspects, among others, of the treaty with Mauritius. A key motion was adopted on Tuesday evening in London, marking significant progress despite initial tensions.

Attorney General Gavin Glover will be traveling to London on Friday, November 14, for crucial discussions with British authorities regarding the restitution of the Chagos archipelago. This trip occurs within the context of the treaty signed between the UK and Mauritius, which stipulates the return of the islands to Mauritian sovereignty while maintaining American access to the Diego Garcia military base.

Beyond the main text, already under parliamentary review in the UK, these talks will address essential annex agreements: maritime security, the establishment of a marine protected area, the trust fund for Chagossians, and even the telephone prefix to be assigned to Diego Garcia, among other topics. The stated goal is to finalize these points by the end of November, before formally drafting them and submitting them for final review.

This tight timeline is part of a renewed parliamentary dynamic in the UK, which was revitalized on Tuesday evening in the House of Lords. The government led by Sir Keir Starmer, facing a threat of defeat on November 4, had paused the committee examination of the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill.

This bill, aimed at ratifying the treaty and allowing the transfer of the archipelago by the British, was initially scheduled for debate that day. An amendment proposed by the Conservative opposition, requiring prior consultation with the Chagossians, had crystallized fears of a bipartisan alliance with the Liberal Democrats, in a House of Lords where Labour does not have an absolute majority. Anticipating a consultation deemed constraining, ministers opted to postpone the procedure, providing a reprieve to opponents who hoped for a withdrawal of the legislation.

The previous month, the bill had passed through the House of Commons without issue, adopted by 320 votes to 171, thanks to the Labour government's comfortable majority. This strategic pause on November 4 had revealed the weaknesses of the case: criticism regarding the fate of the Chagossians, forcibly exiled in the 1960s-1970s to make way for the American base; concerns about environmental guarantees; and doubts regarding the security implications for the UK and its allies. "British ministers, worried about a potential alliance between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives," had chosen to postpone, according to parliamentary observers.

On November 11, the atmosphere calmed during a brief but decisive debate on the order to refer the bill back to committee. Gavin Glover stated that it was "a positive decision made by the Lords on Tuesday evening at the House of Lords."

At 8:04 PM, Baroness Chapman of Darlington, Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, proposed the motion: "That the bill be referred back to committee before the full House." She opened by mentioning the "vigorous debate" from the second reading the previous week and acknowledged the "concerns raised, both inside and outside this House."

The Minister explained the November 4 delay due to the "lack of prior notice from the opposition in the House regarding their amendment to the motion," making continuation "impractical." She expressed her satisfaction that "now that the dust has settled, we can proceed with the motion to refer back to committee as initially planned," specifying that "this brief interruption will not impact the committee's schedule, which will take place on November 18 and 25."

On the substance, Baroness Chapman addressed the grievances expressed during the second reading. Regarding the perspectives of the Chagossians, considered insufficiently reflected in the treaty, she admitted a "considerable diversity of opinions within the Chagossian communities." To address this, the government invites the International Relations and Defence Committee (IRDC) of the British Parliament to "engage a range of Chagossians to gather their views on the implications of the Diego Garcia treaty and produce a report." This process, she insisted, "will not delay the passage of the bill but will be a welcome addition to the debate in the House."

Support and Engagement

She also mentioned the strengthening of the Chagossian contact group, created to give exiles "a formal role in decision-making regarding the British government's support for their community." Following the debates, the government "will explore opportunities to strengthen this group by increasing its transparency and frequency," but "any decision regarding the contact group must be made in agreement with its existing members."

On security aspects, she committed to responding to the questions posed by Baroness Goldie, of the Conservative opposition, with a letter to be sent "later this week" and deposited in the House library. Finally, regarding the environment, she praised the Mauritian announcement on November 3 for the creation of a marine protected area (MPA) covering 640,000 km², using categories from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). "There will be no commercial fishing throughout the area," she specified, with maximum protection for the Great Chagos Bank and limited provisions for subsistence artisanal fishing in resettlement areas. "It is clear that this bill is fundamental to the operation of the Diego Garcia base and the protection of national security," concluded the minister, demonstrating "a firm commitment to support the Chagossians and enhance environmental protections for the archipelago." She called for the motion's adoption.

The interventions from peers reflected a cautious consensus. Baroness Goldie (Conservatives), in charge of defense, expressed her dilemma: "I feel like I’m being asked to weigh the baby when the baby hasn’t been born yet..." She thanked for the "constructive discussions" but reserved the right to propose amendments if "areas of ambiguity and doubt persist." "I would be very disappointed if the government’s response was that these amendments were outside the scope of the bill and that all questions were addressed by the agreement," she warned.

This green light revives the legislative process. Committees will meet on November 18 and 25 in the House of Lords, where amendments and in-depth debates are expected.

Concurrently, secondary legislations will be initiated, which will need to pass through the House of Commons and then the Lords, likely in early 2026. Royal Assent from King Charles III, the final step, is anticipated for March-April, sealing the ratification.

"Very Good Meeting" Ramgoolam/Bérenger

Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam and his deputy Paul Bérenger met on Wednesday to discuss the restitution of the Chagos. Gavin Glover, along with other members, was also present at this inter-ministerial committee meeting regarding the archipelago.

This meeting is described as a "very good meeting," and things are "evolving in the right direction." Within the Alliance of Change, the atmosphere seems to be calming. However, not all points of disagreement between the two partners have yet been resolved. The upcoming Cabinet meeting scheduled for this Friday remains crucial.