PM Andrew Holness Tells Prince William & Kate Jamaica ‘Moving On’ From Monarch
Written by tropixx105 on March 24, 2022
(Urban Islandz) – Jamaica is ready to break away from British Monarch, says PM Andrew Holness.
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Wednesday made it clear to visiting royals the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William, and Kate that the country was intent on becoming independent. He also hinted at the calls for reparations by islanders who are mainly the descendants of slaves under the British Monarchy.
While at his office, the Prime Minister mentioned that Jamaica wants to be independent. His comments come a day after protesters at the British embassy in Kingston demanded an apology for the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and for reparations to be paid to the ancestors of the slaves.
“There are issues here which as you would know are unresolved,” Holness said to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. “But Jamaica is as you would see a country that is very proud … and we’re moving on. And we intend … to fulfill our true ambition of being an independent, fully developed and prosperous country.”
Prime Minister Andrew Holness did not mention reparations, but there are speculations that his carefully chosen words-“issues” that are “unresolved” hint at the demand.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister had previously said that Jamaica was exploring the plans to become a republic, following sister island Barbados which declared independence last November.
The PM in previous years had said the topic is highly debatably, and the final decision would be put to the people in a referendum. However, the calls for scrapping the Queen as head of state has intensified as Jamaica prepares for its 60th-anniversary celebration this year.