Jamaica wants to be independent, says Andrew Holness to Prince Williams

Prime Minister Andrew Holness courageously told Prince Williams and Kate Middleton that Jamaica wants to be an independent and sovereign nation.

2025-08-01 17:36:01

Kingston, Jamaica: Prime Minister Andrew Holness courageously told Prince Williams and Kate Middleton that Jamaica wants to be an independent and sovereign nation. His remarks come a day after demonstrators demanded that the United Kingdom pay reparations for slavery. "But Jamaica is as you would see a country that is very proud... and we're moving on. And we intend... to fulfil our true ambition of being an independent, fully developed and prosperous country," said Andrew Holness.

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Prince Williams, during his address at the governor general's also gave out a short apology for slavery, and said that he agrees with his father's statement that "the appalling atrocity of slavery forever stains our history". The Royal Couple is currently on their "three-country" Caribbean tour as part of Queen Elizabeth II's 70 years of throne succession. The couple is receiving worldwide criticism after photos of Kate Middleton went viral where she could be seen shaking hands with Jamaican children through a fence. The photos are being labelled as "tone deaf".

As Barbados recently became Republic, this three-country Royal Tour is suspected as an act to persuade other Caribbean countries not to follow the footsteps of throwing out monarchy.

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Hundreds of people assembled on Tuesday outside the British High Commission in Kingston, singing Rastafarian songs and carrying banners with the phrase "seh yuh sorry". Jamaican officials have earlier stated the government is examining the procedures of reforming the constitution to evolve as a republic. Experts say the process could take years and would need a referendum.

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The government said last year it will ask Britain for compensation for forcibly transporting around 600,000 Africans to labour on sugarcane and banana plantations that created wealth for British slave holders. The Royal Couple is now headed for Bahamas, and landed their on Thursday. The official page of Duke and Duches of Cambridge Tweeted," The Bahamas, excited to be here for the latest leg of our Caribbean tour,".

Monika Walker

Monika Walker is an experienced journalist specializing in global political developments and international relations. With a keen eye for accuracy and analysis, Monika has been reporting for over a decade, bringing stories to light that matter to readers around the world. She holds a degree in International Journalism and is passionate about giving a voice to underrepresented communities through factual reporting.