Jamaica to petition King Charles to refer reparations questions to the Privy Council
Culture Minister Olivia Grange announced the legal step at the Seville Emancipation Jubilee, saying the process should begin within a month.
KINGSTON, Jamaica. Jamaica is preparing to petition King Charles III to refer legal questions to the Privy Council as part of its campaign for reparations for slavery.
Culture Minister Olivia Grange announced the move at the annual Seville Emancipation Jubilee in St Ann, describing it as the next phase in Jamaica’s long-running push for reparatory justice for the transatlantic slave trade and slavery.
“After years of discussion and planning, we are moving ahead with our demand for reparations in the name of our ancestors,” Grange said.
“The next step in the long journey for reparations is a legal step in which we will petition His Majesty King Charles to put a series of very, very important legal questions to his Privy Council.”
A long road
Grange said the legal process was expected to begin within the next month. She acknowledged that the pursuit of reparations would be lengthy and difficult but reaffirmed the government’s commitment.
“We are under no illusion that this will not be easy or quick. Like the ancestors’ fight for freedom, we anticipate challenges, but like the ancestors, we are in this for the long haul. We won’t give up,” she said.
She urged Jamaicans to keep supporting the reparations movement as a way of honouring the sacrifices of enslaved Africans.
Jamaica National Heritage Trust chairman Orville Hall highlighted the country’s resilience and its commitment to preserving historic sites and cultural heritage.
The jubilee commemorates the abolition of slavery and celebrates Jamaica’s African heritage through cultural performances, historical reflections and the traditional reading of the Emancipation Proclamation.
