The Repair Campaign has welcomed Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ announcement of a petition to King Charles this week, a move that could bring long overdue reparations for the Caribbean region closer to realisation.

Holness has secured broad support across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states, highlighting the issue during this week’s CARICOM Heads of Government meeting.

The petition asks the King to use his authority to request legal advice from the judicial committee of the Privy Council in London, the final court of appeal for UK overseas territories and some Commonwealth countries, on whether the forced transport of Africans to the Caribbean was lawful, if it constituted a crime against humanity, and whether Britain was under obligation to provide restorative justice to countries in the region for chattel slavery and its enduring effects.

The petition comes just a week after The Repair Campaign led a fruitful delegation to the European and UK Parliaments of leading activists and researchers from countries across the Caribbean, including Barbados, Jamaica, Haiti, Suriname, St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia. The group received backing from political representatives from the UK, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Denmark, France and Ireland.

Commenting, founder of The Repair Campaign, Denis O’Brien, said: “The Repair Campaign welcomes this landmark petition from Jamaica and I congratulate Prime Minister Holness on his bold action to bring meaningful positive change to the region.

“The Caribbean’s ongoing challenges stem directly from over 300 years of European colonialism and the genocidal transatlantic slave trade, during which more than 4.7 million people were forcibly shipped to the region and subjected to the most unimaginable daily brutality. Recognition of this injustice is long overdue. 

“With this action and the growing constructive dialogue with decision makers in Europe and the UK, we are closer to finally ensuring reparatory justice.”