Henry

Mike Henry, the Opposition MP for Central Clarendon, wants the Jamaican Parliament to demand reparations for people of African descent whose foreparents were forced into slavery in the Americas by European slave-trading nations.

Opening the debate on the issue in the House of Representatives last week, Henry urged unity on the issue and suggested the legislature establish a committee to quantify the level and form of reparations, including cash and debt relief.

Henry said he had done extensive research on the subject and had not found one case in which a sovereign parliament "who has suffered from slavery" had voted on the entitlement of reparations.

"We have seen increasing apologies from heads of states, monarchs and presidents," Henry said. "I have no problem with accepting and receiving apologies, but for me that is not good enough, and must carry with it compensation equal to the act."

The debate is expected to continue in Parliament on Tuesday.