Jamaica is preparing to formally request that King Charles seek legal guidance from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council—the UK’s highest court for overseas territories and some
Commonwealth nations—on the matter of slavery reparations.
Although Jamaica became independent in 1962, King Charles remains its official head of state. Under the Judicial Committee Act of 1833, he has the authority to refer legal questions to the Privy Council.
The move is part of Jamaica’s broader push for reparations stemming from the transatlantic slave trade, which saw hundreds of thousands of Africans forcibly transported to the island. Advocates argue that slavery’s lasting impacts are still evident in social and economic disparities today.
Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Olivia Grange, announced in parliament that the government will petition King Charles III to submit a set of legal questions to the Privy Council. These include whether the forced transportation and enslavement of Africans in Jamaica was lawful at the time, whether it constituted a crime against humanity, and whether Britain has an obligation to provide reparations for both slavery and its enduring effects.
"We will be submitting a petition to His Majesty King Charles III to refer to the Privy Council a set of questions that we want answered within his current position as head of state of Jamaica," Grange said.
Legal experts say that while the king has the authority to make such a referral, the Privy Council may choose not to issue an opinion. If it does, its decision could range from a binding legal judgment to a non-enforceable opinion.
The call for reparations has long been a part of Caribbean political discourse. While it continues to gain momentum, it also faces resistance, particularly from European governments reluctant to address historical injustices.
King Charles previously acknowledged the horrors of slavery in a 2022 speech to Commonwealth leaders, expressing “deep sorrow,” but the British government—like many former colonial powers—has consistently refused to entertain reparations claims.
This latest petition comes amid wider moves by Jamaica to cut formal ties with the British monarchy. In December, the government introduced legislation aimed at transitioning to a republic. Photo by anonymous, Wikimedia commons.