Grange: King Charles refers Jamaica’s reparations petition to Privy Council

Culture Minister Olivia Grange today reported that King Charles III has referred Jamaica's slavery reparations petition to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

Grange made the announcement on Tuesday evening while delivering a statement in the House of Representatives.

“Now, the King could have ignored us. The King could have delayed responding to us. The King could have made a decision not to refer the questions to the Privy Council, or he could make a decision to refer the questions. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Prime Minister, colleagues, King Charles has referred the petition, filed on the 7th of September 2026, on behalf of the people of Jamaica, to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council,” said Grange.

“This is major…a big deal. A really big deal,” she added.

The petition asked the King, as Jamaica's head of state, to seek an advisory opinion from the country’s highest court on three questions: whether the enslavement of Africans in Jamaica was lawful under English common law, whether it breached international law, and whether the United Kingdom has a legal obligation to provide a remedy.

Grange said Jamaica is now awaiting directions from the Privy Council, which is Jamaica’s highest court, as to the next steps to be taken in the case.

She said that the Attorney General is preparing to handle the case.

“We look forward to the opportunity to argue our case, as we believe we have the best arguments.”

The Culture Minister said the Cabinet and Parliament will be updated on the developments in the case.

She said Jamaica is committed to securing justice for the harm done by slavery.

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