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Jamaica will seek no reparation from Britain - Simpson Miller
Published: Wednesday | March 7, 2012 Comments 0
Simpson Miller
THE JAMAICAN Government has given the clearest signal yet that it would not be pressing Britain to pay reparation for the ills of slavery.
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, in an interview conducted at The Gleaner's North Street, Kingston offices on Monday, said she would not join the calls for such a payment.
"Whether Britain would be able to pay compensation to the population ... of African descent, I don't know.
"I have heard the calls, I am not making any call on the British government about whether they pay or give us compensation," the prime minister said.
At the same time, Simpson Miller has said her Government was not expecting Prince Harry to apologise for the ills of slavery. She also said her Government would not be calling for Britain to pay reparation for slavery.
The prince arrived in Jamaica on Monday for a four-day visit. He is representing his grandmother - The Queen - who is celebrating 60 years on the British throne.
Britain built its empire on the back of slave labour, some of which took place on Jamaican plantations between the 17th and 19th centuries. Asked if Britain should apologise for slavery, Simpson Miller said her Government would demand no such action.
'Wicked, brutal'
Speaking of the capture and sale of people in Africa, the Middle Passage, as well as slave labour on plantations, Simpson Miller said, "it was wicked, it was brutal".
"No race should have been subjected to what our ancestors were subjected to," she said of slavery.
"We gained our freedom on the sweat, blood and tears of our ancestors and we are now free. If Britain wishes to apologise, fine with us, no problem at all," she added.
Out of the same interview, conducted jointly by the BBC and The Gleaner, reports were yesterday carried in the British media claiming Simpson Miller had hinted her Government would be seeking reparations for slavery.
Published: Wednesday | March 7, 2012 Comments 0
Simpson Miller
THE JAMAICAN Government has given the clearest signal yet that it would not be pressing Britain to pay reparation for the ills of slavery.
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, in an interview conducted at The Gleaner's North Street, Kingston offices on Monday, said she would not join the calls for such a payment.
"Whether Britain would be able to pay compensation to the population ... of African descent, I don't know.
"I have heard the calls, I am not making any call on the British government about whether they pay or give us compensation," the prime minister said.
At the same time, Simpson Miller has said her Government was not expecting Prince Harry to apologise for the ills of slavery. She also said her Government would not be calling for Britain to pay reparation for slavery.
The prince arrived in Jamaica on Monday for a four-day visit. He is representing his grandmother - The Queen - who is celebrating 60 years on the British throne.
Britain built its empire on the back of slave labour, some of which took place on Jamaican plantations between the 17th and 19th centuries. Asked if Britain should apologise for slavery, Simpson Miller said her Government would demand no such action.
'Wicked, brutal'
Speaking of the capture and sale of people in Africa, the Middle Passage, as well as slave labour on plantations, Simpson Miller said, "it was wicked, it was brutal".
"No race should have been subjected to what our ancestors were subjected to," she said of slavery.
"We gained our freedom on the sweat, blood and tears of our ancestors and we are now free. If Britain wishes to apologise, fine with us, no problem at all," she added.
Out of the same interview, conducted jointly by the BBC and The Gleaner, reports were yesterday carried in the British media claiming Simpson Miller had hinted her Government would be seeking reparations for slavery.
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