Dutty Cup artist Sean Paul has joined the millions of people around the world sending condolences to the British people on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II who died at age 96 on Thursday.
The Dynamite deejay posted on Twitter: “As a Jamaican, our biggest export is our culture – thanx 2 other countries 4 welcoming our culture. I always enjoy touring the UK & it has become a home away from home 4 me.”
He continued, “Death is hard, so to my UK family I’m sorry 4 your loss, May Queen Elizabeth II Rest In Peace.”
Persons have chided the Jamaican national on his comments, citing the atrocities committed by the British government under the supervision of Queen Elizabeth II and the British Monarchy.
Jamaica gained independence from the British in 1962, but continues to self govern under a constitutional monarchy where the Queen was head of state until her death, represented by the Governor General.
She is succeeded by her eldest son King Charles III.
Sean Paul whose grandmother is from Coventry U.K, told the Guardian that he understands both sides of the reparations argument which include demand for the royals to pay back countries like Jamaica for wickedness committed to black people during the transatlantic slave trade.
“It’s weird for me because my grandmother is from Coventry and she feels a strong connection to the royal family – she woke up at 4am to watch Prince Charles and Diana get married and she still has the cups with their faces on,” he says with a laugh. “But then my friends who live in the ghetto feel like, what are they doing for us? So I understand both sides. Emotionally, there is a nostalgia there but as an adult, I feel like: what is it for?”
Earlier this year Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton visited Jamaica and several other caribbean countries where they faced calls to make Jamaica a republic and to pay reparations for slavery.
Jamaicans gathered in-front of the British High Commission on Trafalgar Road in St. Andrew- as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge William and Kate arrived at the Norman Manley International airport to a ceremonial welcome by government officials as well as members of Her Majesty’s loyal opposition.
The royals arrived shortly after 2:00 pm in the island to a ceremonial Guard of Honour and later met up with the Governor General at King’s House.
The demonstrations got under way early Tuesday (March 22) morning in the country’s capital as people from all walks of life including the Rastafarian community, academics and other organizations protested the monarchy’s hold on Jamaica over the years.
Reggae singer Queen Ifrica, in an expletives laced pronouncement asked that the royals “Leggo Jamaica”.
The contrasting welcome of protest and pageantry for the then Duke and Duchess to Jamaica signifies a split in consent on whether the country should stay on as a member of the commonwealth or do away with the King as Head of State represented by the Governor General.
Much of the resistance is Jamaica has been organized by The Advocates Network, a human rights coalition of Jamaican activists and equalities organizations. The coalition has written an open letter signed by major figures in Jamaica calling for the British monarchy to pay slave reparations.
A letter signed by 100 Jamaican leaders including former Prime Ministers said the country sees “no reason” to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne because her leadership and her predecessors “perpetuated the greatest human rights tragedy in the history of humankind”
Dancehall King Beenie Man had also hit out against the Royal visit earlier this year in an interview on British Tv morning Show Good Morning Britain.
“Jamaicans don’t want the Queen… If Harry [was coming], people would react different. People would go and meet Harry. But William, nobody wants to see that,” he said.
Last November, Barbados voted to become a republic, after 55 years after gaining independence from the UK. They have since done away with the Queen and honored pop superstar Rihanna as national hero at the same ceremony.
This has rekindle discussions in many Caribbean territories, including Jamaica that still hold the Queen as Head Of State although they gained political independence decades ago.
Hundreds of thousands of African slaves toiled in Jamaica under more than 300 years of British rule and faced brutal conditions. Queen Elizabeth II has never apologized or admitted to the role of the Empire in the transatlantic slave trade.
A similar call was made in 2007 for The Queen to apologize and provide financial compensation.
Prince William barely addressed the role Britain played in the transatlantic slave, no apology was forthcoming while he was in Jamaica according to ITV.
