THE Jamaican government is set to take its fight for slavery reparations to the King with ministers saying attempts to seek justice over Britain's colonial past had entered “another phase”.
Officials for the Commonwealth realm have submitted three “legal questions” for King Charles to take to the Privy Council – the formal body that advises the British monarch.
Olivia Grange, Jamaica’s minister with responsibility for culture, gender, entertainment and sport, said the filing was on behalf of the people of Jamaica.
She said: “We are taking our demand for reparations from the United Kingdom for the enslavement of our African ancestors into another phase.
“We will be submitting a petition to His Majesty King Charles III to refer to the Privy Council a set of questions that we want answered within his current position as head of state for Jamaica.”
In the submission, officials will ask whether the forced transport of African people from their homelands to their subsequent enslavement in Jamaica was lawful, along with whether the transportation and slavery of people of African descent can be considered “crimes against humanity under international law for which the UK bears responsibility”.
They will also ask “whether the UK is under an obligation to provide a remedy to the Jamaican people for the unlawful transport and subsequent enslavement of African people in Jamaica under British rule”.
During the announcement of the petition at the House of Representatives, Grange said that “the matter is now with the attorney-general of Jamaica for filing on behalf of the people of Jamaica”.
Grange added that Jamaican officials had given the matter careful thought and that they had taken “much into consideration, including positions discussed with us by several legal minds.”
Ministers said that the submission to the king was a “legal approach”, separate from the ongoing political discussions about reparations.
The king has remained the head of state for the country which has been a Commonwealth realm since gaining independence from Britain in 1962.
The Privy Council, which meets to discuss primarily on matters of government, meets once a month and Charles has the authority to refer the questions to the council for consideration.
Jamaica's prime minister, Andrew Holness, has often expressed his hope that the country will become a republic, severing ties with the British monarchy.
In 2022, during a visit from the Prince and Princess of Wales, then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Holness told them that his country was “moving on” from the monarchy – leaving the royal family members standing awkwardly during the meeting.
In 2009, Jamaica set up the National Committee on Reparations which has been at the forefront of the debate.
During the last Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Samoa, countries said that the “time had come” for a proper conversation on the subject.
However, in the run-up to the summit, Keir Starmer ruled out the UK Government paying reparations for Britain’s role in the slave trade.
