Jamaica to bring slavery reparations petition to King Charles

The Jamaican government will present a petition to King Charles regarding slavery reparations on Monday, said Culture Minister Olivia Grange. The petition will ask the King to refer three questions to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC), the country's highest court, concerning the legality of African enslavement in Jamaica. Grange explained that the inquiry could lead to a long-awaited resolution for the atrocities endured by Jamaica's African ancestors over centuries.

The three inquiries the Jamaican government poses to the King are: whether the enslavement of Africans was legal under English law, whether it violated international law, and whether Britain currently has a legal obligation to provide redress. This petition is not a demand for compensation but a request to the King, who then forwards it to the JCPC. Grange emphasized that the outcome of the responses will determine the subsequent steps.

Buckingham Palace has been collaborating closely with Jamaica's Governor-General to ensure the petition is correctly filed. A Palace spokesperson noted that King Charles has consistently demonstrated a commitment to fostering a deeper comprehension of slavery and seeking remedies for historical injustices to benefit present-day communities.

In 1833, when slavery was abolished across most of the British Empire, the government compensated slave owners with £20 million. The loans used to fund this compensation were repaid in 2015. Grange highlighted that up until 2015, Britain had been paying slave owners because they considered the enslaved people as property. She questioned why, if modern Britain is still repaying slave owners for the property that was their ancestors, the nation should not seek some form of restitution today.

Grange also plans to meet with British Museum officials to discuss the repatriation of artifacts taken from Jamaica during the colonial period. She emphasized the priceless and significant nature of these artifacts, stating that they are integral to Jamaica's history and aim to bring them back home. In 2015, former Prime Minister David Cameron, while visiting Jamaica, ruled out reparations for Britain's involvement in the slave trade, stating that slavery was "abhorrent in all its forms" and that Jamaica should "move on from this painful legacy and continue to build for the future."