British PM visits Jamaica with prisoner transfer deal

British Prime Minister David Cameron arrived in Jamaica on Tuesday for a 24-hour official visit in a bid to reinvigorate Britain's relationship with the Caribbean island.

Cameron said that he was delighted to make his first visit to the Caribbean as prime minister and he came to seek a stronger and deeper relationship which would benefit both of them, according to a statement issued by Britain.

"Our relationship should be based on the countries we are today and the opportunities we can generate together, rather than over-relying on the historical ties of the past," Cameron said.

A prisoner transfer agreement was concluded between Britain and Jamaica as Cameron started his visit, which allows Jamaican prisoners in Britain to return home to serve their sentences, according to the British government.

To that end, Britain will provide funds to help build a new 1,500-bed prison in Jamaica and improve the poor conditions in existing prisons in the country.

More than 600 Jamaican nationals are now in British jails, making Jamaicans the third-largest group of foreign offenders in Britain, and the new deal is expected to save Britain 10 million pounds (15.2 million U.S. dollars) a year when transfers begin in 2020.

Cameron will address a joint sitting of the Jamaican Parliament and hold talks with Jamaican Prime Minister Simpson Miller later Wednesday after attending a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of soldiers of World Wars I and II at the National Heroes Park.

On Wednesday, Cameron will leave for Grenada. Endi