Jamaica calls Britain to pay billions for slavery

Cameron then affirmed his commitment to building prisons in other countries in order to secure transfer agreements in 2013, citing Jamaica and Nigeria as examples.

In July, 14 Caribbean nations seeking reparations for slavery brought a series of lawsuits against France, Britain and the Netherlands.

Beckles is not the only prominent Jamaican who has recently made the call that Britain should pay reparations for slavery.

“We ask not for handouts or any such acts of indecent submission”, he wrote.

However, it is our strong and considered opinion that the visit of Prime Minister Cameron presents and even greater opportunity for us to continue the debate to educate all Jamaicans, especially our young people about the importance of reparations. “It would commit to fix the damage and it would also commit to non-repetition”.

More than 600 Jamaican nationals are behind bars in Britain – the third most from any country.

While in Jamaica, Cameron will be involved in several official activities, including a floral tribute in honour of soldiers of World Wars I and II; bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller; a reception with representatives of the Jamaican government, business community and civil society; and an address to a joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament. But she emphasized that the discussion need not be confrontational.

Chairman of CARICOM’s Reparation Commission Sir Hilary Beckles says the United Kingdom owes Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean.

In recent years, Jamaica has been forging closer economic links with countries such as Venezuela and China, which has become Jamaica’s biggest trading partner, and the British government is now anxious to capitalize on its historical ties to Jamaica and other Caribbean nations.

“The PM’s point will be he wants to focus on the future”, the spokesperson continued.

Ahead of his visit, Number 10 sources insisted Mr Cameron did not believe in paying reparations for slavery, calling it a “centuries old” issue.

One Jamaican Parliament member, Mike Henry, told The Jamaica Gleaner newspaper that he would urge colleagues to turn their backs on Cameron during his address unless reparations are on the agenda. The process of reparations must first begin with an acceptance and acknowledgement that the foundations of the current developed British society were built on the backs of free humans who were captured, transported through a vicious cycle and enslaved to the social and economic benefit of Britain.

The UK’s position that reparations are not the “right approach” has remained consistent.

The academic called on Cameron to acknowledge the U.K.’s history of colonialism in the Caribbean, and said London now has to “play its part in cleaning up this monumental mess of empire”.