You are certainly not guilty of a crime your parents or forefathers committed, but if you enjoy the fruits of their crime, then you are just as guilty as they are.

Recently, The Guardian reported that Germany has agreed to pay Namibia €1.1 billion over historical Herero-Nama genocide. This is in relation to the tens of thousands of men, women, and children who were shot, tortured, or driven into the Kalahari desert to starve by German troops between 1904 and 1908 after the Herero and Nama tribes rebelled against colonial rule in what was then named German South West Africa and is now Nambia. However, I found it particularly interesting that Angela Merkel, the chancellor of Germany, and her Government labels this act as a gesture of reconciliation, but not legally binding reparation, while the Namibian Government, since their negotiations in 2015, have called it an attempt to “heal the wounds” of historic violence.

But whatever the title and the finer details, this is just the catalyst for today’s discussion: Should Britain pay reparation to Jamaica? In fact, let us not even call it reparation, but an attempt to heal wounds or a gesture of reconciliation.

Without going into the mundane and tiresome argument of this age-old debate, I would like to highlight a few facts, or a few ‘did you know?’

According to www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/jamaica/entry-requirements British nationals do not need a visa to visit Jamaica; however, Jamaicans need a visa to visit the UK. In addition to this, in 2015, The Guardian published an article entitled ‘Jamaica calls for Britain to pay billions of pounds in reparations for slavery’. And, in conclusion, nothing has been said or done thus far.

Many tend to say forget the past and look at the future, but who really has the right to say that? Surely not Britain! Surely not the same country that exploited us, siphoned our riches like a spider before its prey, and then left us dry so that it may fatten. This brings to mind a popular saying that I often heard as a child, “Mi nah mek yuh drop buff and mi drop peng,” which is exactly the case now. If Britain were to fall now, you would hear a thunderous sound. While if we were to fall, there would hardly be a sound.

A frightening proof of this reality is the Jamaican dollar, which stands at a whopping $213 to a measly £1. However, do not misinterpret me, I am not blaming the ‘innocent’ UK citizens who have never had a slave nor enslaved. However, if they have benefited from their forefathers’ enslaving our people, if their lands are now rich and flowing with milk and honey owing to past exploits, then certainly they are guilty. Anyway, congratulations London on the 82-foot (25-metre) transparent swimming pool, the sky pool as they call it. It is the largest freestanding acrylic pool structure in the world and the showpiece of EcoWorld Ballymore’s new Embassy Gardens development.

Nevertheless, moving swiftly along, I do not expect each and every Jamaican to receive a handout, but what I expect is to have negotiations and joint projects that can enhance our country. And, I do not mind going into details if need be. However, I pray and hope that whatever negotiations are to be made, if at all, that our leaders do right, and equally that our people do right by taking advantage of the opportunities and uplift themselves. Well, that is certainly another topic for another time.

Finally, let look at Jamaican nationals having visa-free entry to the UK, just as how British nationals can enter our country visa-free.

Romane Romon Elliston is a poet, author, life coach, motivational speaker and content creator. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or ellistonpolyglot@gmail.com.