Jamaica PM tells British royals island nation wants to be independent

Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness presents Britain's Prince William with a bottle of Appleton Estate Ruby during a meeting at his office, on day five of the Platinum Jubilee Royal Tour of the Caribbean, in Kingston, Jamaica, March 23, 2022. Jane Barlow/Pool via REUTERS

KINGSTON (Reuters) - Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Wednesday told Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate that his country wants to be "independent" and to address "unresolved" issues, a day after protesters called on the United Kingdom to pay reparations for slavery.

The royal couple arrived in Jamaica on Tuesday as part of a week-long tour of former British Caribbean colonies that coincides with Queen Elizabeth's 70 years on the throne, but have faced public questioning of the British Empire's legacy.