Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness says Jamaica’s petition to King Charles regarding the enslavement of Africans should not be misconstrued as contention towards the United Kingdom.

He was speaking at a meeting of the High-Level Global Advisory Council on Reparatory Justice on Thursday.

It’s the first time the Prime Minister has spoken publicly on the petition filed at Buckingham Palace on September 7.

The petition was filed by a Jamaican delegation, led by Culture Minister, Olivia Grange.

It asks King Charles to refer certain points to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council for their determination.

These are whether the enslavement of Africans in Jamaica was lawful under English common law, whether it breached international law and whether Britain has a legal obligation to remedy the harm it caused.

British newspapers have reported that Jamaica is seeking £7.6 billion in its reparations push.

But Minister Grange told Nationwide that there is no sum of money attached to the petition.

Dr. Holness says compensation is not Jamaica’s primary goal.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness.