British PM pledges $300M to Caribbean but rejects push for slavery reparations in ex colonies

September 30, 2015 News Room

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP)_ U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron is making his first official visit to Jamaica, which was a profitable British colony for about three centuries before the island became independent just over 50 years ago.

Cameron has promised a roughly $300 million aid package to upgrade infrastructure across the Caribbean and reinvigorate Britain’s relationship with the region. He arrived Tuesday and departs Wednesday.

But he is facing pressure to address a push by Caribbean governments for reparations from Britain and two other European nations for what they say is the lingering legacy of the Atlantic slave trade.

After talks with Jamaica‘s prime minister, Cameron said the United Kingdom’s longstanding position is “that we do not believe reparations is the right approach.”

He is due to address Jamaica‘s Parliament.