(Jamaica Observer) – Veteran parliamentarian Mike Henry yesterday said that Britain was adding “insult to injury” with its £25 million grant to help construct a new prison in Jamaica and vowed to take his fight for reparation for slavery to the International Court of Justice.
Henry expressed his annoyance with London as British Prime Minister David Cameron urged the region to “move on” from the issue of reparations and focus on the future.
“Slavery was and is abhorrent in all its forms. It has no place whatsoever in any civilised society, and Britain is proud to have eventually led the way in its abolition,” Cameron told a joint sitting of both Houses of Jamaica’s Parliament.
“I acknowledge that these wounds run very deep, indeed. But, I do hope that, as friends who have gone through so much together since those darkest of times, we can move on from this painful legacy and continue to build for the future,” he said.
Cameron stated that his reason for wanting to come to Jamaica was because of his interest of the future relationship between the UK and the Caribbean.
“I’m here because we have common aspirations and interests that we can meet better by working more closely together. I passionately believe that our relationship now is more important than it has ever been — for both of us,” he said.
However, Henry, who represents Clarendon Central in the legislature, and a small group of placard-bearing demonstrators supporting reparations and who staged a peaceful protest outside Gordon House, were not convinced.
Henry, who has consistently led the fight for reparation in Parliament, boycotted the joint sitting.
“I still stand resolute that Britain has not apologised for slavery,” Henry told the Jamaica Observer on Thursday.
He said that he was aware that Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has said that she had raised the issue with Cameron, “but is she satisfied with the response?”
Henry said that he would continue his fight to take the matter to the International Court of Justice.
