"The modern poverty of the Caribbean is the direct result of this and similar exploitation. One of the consequences of this poverty is that hundreds of thousands of West Indians have been forced to come to Britain as migrant workers. Thus my book about migrant workers would be financed directly out of them or their relatives or ancestors."
Mr Berger (who has also won this year's Guardian fiction prize) was speaking at the Cafe Royal, Regent Street, London, where he accepted the prize from Mr Roy Jenkins, MP, for his novel "G".
The book was chosen from a list of 50 by Cyril Connolly, Elizabeth Bowen and George Steiner. Mr Connolly said the judges chose "G" for "its human and intellectual distinction, its grasp of modern history and sympathy with the oppressed."
Berger's statement: "The industrial revolution and the inventions and culture which accompanied it and which created modern Europe was initially financed by profits from the slave trade. And the fundamental nature of relations between Europe and the rest of the world, between black and white, has not changed.
"Before the slave trade began, before the European de-humanised himself, clenched himself on his violence, there must have been a moment when black and white approached each other with the amazement of potential equals. The moment passed. And henceforth the world was divided between potential slaves and potential slavemasters.
"The historical destiny of our time is becoming clear. The oppressed are breaking through the wall of silence which was built into their minds by their oppressor. And in their struggle against exploitation and neocolonialism - but only through and by virtue of this common struggle - it is possible for the descendants of the slave and the slavemaster to approach each other again with the amazed hope of potential equals.
"This is why I intend to share the prize with those West Indians in and from the Caribbean who are fighting to put an end to their exploitation."