Jamaica: Leaders of UK, Japan to make official visits to Caribbean country this week
KINGSTON, Jamaica _ The leaders of Britain and Japan are making official visits to Jamaica this week, the Caribbean country’s government announced Monday.
British Prime Minister David Cameron is due to arrive in the capital of Kingston on Tuesday and leave Wednesday, while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will come Wednesday and depart Thursday.
A government statement said Cameron is scheduled to address Parliament on Wednesday and hold talks with his Jamaican counterpart, Portia Simpson Miller.
It was not known if Cameron planned to comment on an effort by political leaders of Jamaica and other Caribbean nations to seek reparations from Britain, France and the Netherlands for what they say is the lingering ill effects of the Atlantic slave trade.
One Parliament member, Mike Henry, told The Jamaica Gleaner newspaper that he would urge colleagues to turn their backs on Cameron during his Parliament address unless reparations are on the agenda for his visit.
Abe is scheduled to lay a floral tribute in honour of soldiers from World Wars I and II and also will meet with Simpson Miller.
The Associated Press
Alwin Marshall-Squire is the Editor-in-Chief of S-Q Publications Inc., overseeing editorial strategy for GTA Weekly, GTA Today, and Vision Newspaper. He leads the publications’ mission to deliver bold, original journalism focused on the people and communities of the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, and the global Caribbean diaspora.
Also writes for GTA Weekly and GTA Today.
