Jamaica’s Reparations Petition a Catalyst for Global Discussion on Slavery’s Legacy – Minister Grange

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, says the legal process surrounding Jamaica’s slavery reparations petition serves as a catalyst for wider global discussion about the enduring social and economic legacies of chattel slavery.

“We hope that this legal process, which requires presentation of facts and evidence, will force the peoples of the world to confront the full truth about chattel enslavement and its continuing harmful effects on Africans and people of African descent,” she said.

Minister Grange was speaking during a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday (September 23) at Jamaica House.

On September 7, Jamaica formally submitted a historic petition to King Charles III, asking him in his capacity as Head Of State to refer key legal questions regarding transatlantic chattel slavery to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

King Charles III has referred three reparation questions to the Privy Council for determination, and the Government is now awaiting directions on the next steps in its petition.

Ms. Grange explained that the petition is a legal process and does not constitute an interstate negotiation or a demand for payment.

“It asks legal questions that must be determined by our highest court,” she said.

The three questions concern whether the seizure, forced transportation to Jamaica and enslavement of Africans as chattel was lawful under English law; whether those actions constituted a breach of international law; and whether there is a legal obligation on the part of the United Kingdom to provide a reparatory remedy to the people of Jamaica.

“The petition was filed pursuant to section four of the Judicial Committee Act 1833, allowing the King to refer any issue of legal or constitutional importance that any issue that cannot be determined through the ordinary judicial process to the Privy Council for their determination,” the Minister noted.

The petition was drafted by noted Jamaican attorney, Frank Phipps; Jamaica’s United Kingdom (UK) representative and a member of the legal team, Edward Fitzgerald KC; Bert Samuels; Ulele Burnham; and Harj Narulla.

The petitioners are Minister Grange; Attorney General, Dr. Derrick McKoy; and Chair of the National Council on Reparations (NCR), Laleta Davis Mattis.

Minister Grange informed that Jamaica’s action has received regional backing, noting that letters of support from the CARICOM Chair, and other Heads of Government were included in the petition, along with a letter from the President of Ghana.

“Indeed, CARICOM unanimously supported Jamaica’s decision to petition His Majesty at the 49th meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in July 2025,” she pointed out.

She said that the petition does not conflict with CARICOM’s revised 10-point plan for reparatory justice, noting that Jamaica has been involved in the development and revision of the plan.

Persons may access the official text of the reparations petition via the Government of Jamaica Petition PDF.