Dear Editor,

Now that the British prime minister has decided to visit Jamaica, the reparations movement sees an opportunity to ‘milk’ him into, one, apologising for slavery; and, two, writing a cheque.

While nothing is wrong with an apology — instead of ‘badness’, I wish the average Jamaican would understand the nobleness and strength of such an act — but when it comes to money, Prime Minister Cameron should say, “We have already paid you.”

I wish he would remind those money-seekers that his country has already paid Jamaica with financial grants to build roads, schools, etc. He should add: “We have already paid you in the form of very, very low loan interest loans in order for you to import key raw material to maintain your economy.”

Prime Minister David Cameron can say: “We repaid you with an economic vibrant, crime-free country; however, after Independence, the people you elected destroyed it. We continue to repay annually with budgetary supports and by allowing many poor, illiterate Jamaicans to migrate to majority-white countries.” How many Jamaicans are fighting to go to Africa?

Our experiences over the century have made us who we are. While some of the encounters caused great suffering and humiliation, it is part of our DNA. It is the reason we speak the way we do. We might not want to embrace it, but without slavery, indentured labour, and colonialism, there would never be a Jamaica.

Michael Brown

Washington, DC

miguelbro@yahoo.com