Jamaica’s prime minister has said if Britain wants to apologise for the years of “wicked and brutal” slavery suffered by the islanders at its hands, it would be “fine”.
Portia Simpson Miller’s comments came as Prince Harry touched down at Kingston’s Norman Manley Airport on the final leg of his Diamond Jubilee tour.
“No race should have been subjected to what our ancestors were subjected to,” added Ms Simpson Miller.
“If Britain wishes to apologise, fine with us, no problem at all.”
Prince Harry, who was welcomed to Jamaica with a 21-gun salute, is visiting the West Indian island on behalf of his grandmother, the Queen.
He flew there from the Bahamas where he honoured fallen servicemen in a wreath-laying ceremony.
Jamaica is celebrating 50 years of independence from Great Britain this year.
In an interview with the BBC just before Harry’s visit, the newly-elected premier was asked whether Britain should pay compensation to Jamaica for using hundreds of thousands of slaves to work on plantations between the 17th and 19th centuries, and replied: “Whether Britain will be able to pay compensation I don’t know. We have heard the calls, but I’m not making any calls on the British Government.”
“We came on a long journey, from slavery to adult suffrage to our independence,” continued the prime minister.
“We are a nation where our maturity is now saying we should look to a form of government which at this time would take full charge of our destiny.”
Her vow to cut ties with the Queen could see Jamaica become a republic in a matter of months, probably after a referendum.
“I’m not going to give any time frame. We will be celebrating our 50th anniversary in August, so for us to be looking at changes now, is an appropriate time in our history”, she explained.
But she added: “It’s not a matter of getting rid of the Queen. As a matter of fact, I want you to know I have said on many occasions, I admire the Queen. I’m fond of her, she is a beautiful lady. Our bonds will remain strong.”
Prince Harry will meet Ms Simpson Miller at a lunch reception in Kingston today.
He is scheduled to propose one of the toasts at a state banquet this evening.
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