On Monday, Jamaica’s culture minister, Olivia Grange, will present a petition to King Charles, who serves as the country’s head of state. The petition will ask the King to refer three questions to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) – Jamaica’s highest court – regarding the legality of enslaving Africans in Jamaica under English law, whether it breached international law, and whether Britain now has a legal duty to provide redress.
Grange said the referral could pave the way for a “long outstanding settlement for the hundreds of years of the most horrific abuse that our African ancestors endured.” The petition is not a demand for payment; it simply seeks answers that could shape future steps. Once the JCPC responds, the next actions will be determined.
In addition to the petition, Grange will meet with officials from the British Museum to discuss the repatriation of artefacts taken during the colonial era. She described these items as “priceless” and “significant to the story of Jamaica” and said the government is working to bring them home.
The Jamaican government has worked with Buckingham Palace and the Governor‑General to ensure the petition is properly lodged. A Palace spokesperson noted that His Majesty has “expressed his personal and wholehearted commitment to promoting greater understanding around the issue of slavery and finding ways to address historic wrongs for the benefit of communities today.”
Grange highlighted the historical context, noting that Britain paid £20 million in 1833 to slave owners and that the loans were only paid off in 2015. She questioned why, if Britain was still repaying the slave masters for property that was once our people, the country should not pursue a remedy now. The petition therefore seeks to address the lingering legacy of slavery and its impact on contemporary Jamaica.
