Brian Ellsworth and Kate Chappell

KINGSTON, Reuters – Jamaican activists staged a demonstration to demand reparations for slavery as Prince William of Great Britain and Kate prepare to travel to Jamaica as part of a Caribbean tour. This has prompted renewed criticism of Britain’s colonial past.

Over the weekend, the Duke and Duchess visited Belize to begin the week-long trip that coincides Queen Elizabeth’s 70th anniversary on the throne. The couple will travel to Jamaica and then the Bahamas on Tuesday.

This tour is four months ago, when Barbados was made a republic and the queen removed as its head of state. Jamaica’s government is pursuing the same course of action, although this could take many years.

Numerous people were seen assembling outside of Kingston’s British High Commission singing Rastafarian songs. They also held banners bearing the words “seh you sorry” which is a phrase in patois that asks Britain for an apology.

Hujae Hutchinson (27-year-old customer service representative) said, “I am a descendant from great African ancestors. I owe them it to me to be here.” Hujae Hutchinson was speaking at the rally. Activists read 60 reasons to reparations. In August, Jamaica will celebrate 60 years of independence.

“I would like to see the British Crown recognize the great crime they committed against the African people, and they should apologize for it and return what they took from their ancestors.”

The letter was signed by 100 Jamaican lawyers, politicians and artists before the visit. It stated that compensations were needed “to start a journey of healing, forgiveness reconciliation and compensation.”

According to Reuters’ preliminary schedule, Kate and William will take part in a “sports” activity and a culture activity Tuesday.

After a dozen protestors from indigenous villages, the couple was forced to alter their Belize itinerary.

Marlene Malahoo Forte was Jamaica’s attorney-general from January to January. In December, she told Jamaica Observer, that Prime Minister Andrew Holness had given her instructions to amend the constitution in order to make Jamaica a republic.

This would need to be done through a referendum.

Last year, the government announced that it would seek compensation from Britain for forcing 600,000. Africans to be transported to sugarcane plantations and banana plantations. This was a move that made billions for British slave owners.

Mike Henry (Jamaican lawmaker) has proposed reparations for 7.6 billion pounds ($10billion).

The figure was derived from the 20 million pound payment made by Britain in 1837 to slave owners in British colonies in order to pay for the emancipation and release of enslaved persons following the abolishment of slavery in 1833.