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The United Kingdom (UK) government has rejected Jamaica’s call for slavery reparations, saying it “will not make reparations” for the transatlantic slave trade.
The statement came Monday after Jamaican Culture Minister Olivia Grange led a delegation to Britain to pursue reparations for Africans who suffered under slavery.
“Our position on reparations is clear, the UK does not and will not make reparations,” a spokesperson for Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Downing Street office said.
The spokesperson described the transatlantic slave trade as “abhorrent” but said Britain would focus on working with other countries on current challenges.
Jamaica’s delegation plans to present a petition to King Charles, who remains the country’s head of state.
The petition asks the King to refer three questions about the legality of the transatlantic slave trade to Jamaica’s highest court of appeal, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London.
The delegation said the legal move is the first time a Commonwealth country has used the route to pursue slavery reparations.
Buckingham Palace said Sunday it understood that the Jamaican government was seeking a hearing before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
The palace also said King Charles has repeatedly expressed his “personal and wholehearted commitment” to promoting greater understanding of slavery and addressing historic wrongs.
Grange will also meet British Museum officials to discuss returning colonial-era artefacts to Jamaica.
Modern British royals have expressed remorse over the slave trade, which enriched their ancestors, but have stopped short of issuing a formal apology or committing to reparations.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are due to visit the Caribbean later this year, but Jamaica is not included in their nine-day overseas trip.
