The UK has agreed to “structured dialogue” in the next year with Caribbean nations affected by the slave trade and its legacy, Commonwealth leaders have said.

Gaston Browne, Antigua and Barbuda’s prime minister, said there was a “consensus” in discussions between governments about a way forward on slavery reparations at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm).

“There’s camaraderie and where we have issues that potentially could have divided us, we’re able to come to a consensus on the way forward,” he said.

Browne also praised UK prime minister Andy Burnham for being “very assertive in addressing [the] issue”.

“Perhaps there are some who believe that he may have dodged the issue as a relatively new prime minister. I think he has shown a significant amount of courage and goodwill, and I can tell you that he has developed a lot of goodwill with the Caribbean nations.

“And this structured dialogue that he has proposed, we are hoping that it will take place sometime within the next 12 months.…