Home · Entertainment · Oct 27 archive
King Charles III Begins Caribbean Tour Amid Calls for Reparations
· Confirmed
In Short: King Charles III began a Caribbean tour Tuesday, facing calls for reparations and apologies for the slave trade, which he has called the 'darkest days' of British history.
King Charles III began a Caribbean tour Tuesday, facing calls for reparations and apologies for the slave trade, which he has called the 'darkest days' of British history. The 77-year-old king, who is receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, will visit three countries in nine days, starting with the Bahamas, Guyana, and Antigua and Barbuda.
According to Botchwey, the Commonwealth, which includes 56 member countries with the king at its helm, is an important anchor in a 'world that is almost spinning out of control'. The tour, which includes the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda, will focus on investment and trade opportunities for member countries.
Few in royal circles will have forgotten a 2022 turbulent trip to Jamaica by Prince William, when he and Princess Catherine were met with anti-monarchy protests and calls for reparations. Last month, Jamaica filed a petition in an appeals court in London to advance its push for reparations for the African ancestors who suffered under hundreds of years of enslavement.
The programme will 'not shy away from the darkest days of our past', as His Majesty has described them, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said. Charles is expected to address some of the 'painful aspects' of British colonial rule and acknowledge the torture and violence against the Mau Mau rebels of the 1950s.
In Kenya, Charles and President Ruto laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior and viewed the Mũgomo Tree at the site of the declaration of Kenya’s independence in 1963. Charles and Camilla were joined by local schoolkids to view exhibits documenting Kenya’s history and the events leading to the country’s independence.
While in the Bahamas, Charles is scheduled to visit Clifford Park, where the archipelago’s black, turquoise and yellow flag was raised for the first time more than half a century ago. He will also attend a Youth Rally celebrating the contribution of young people to national life and spend time with members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force at Coral Harbour Base.
Caribbean leaders have long demanded an apology and reparations from Britain, which has consistently rejected both. The Bahamas National Reparations Committee (BNRC) renewed calls for the British monarch to be removed as Head of State of the Caribbean nation, saying King Charles III should not visit 'empty-handed'.
The tour is expected to highlight environmental conservation and sustainability, and discussions will take place about colonial legacy and the intergenerational impact of the transatlantic trade in enslaved persons.
Despite the calls for reparations, Buckingham Palace has stated that the monarch will not offer a formal apology for slavery. The visit programme will be oriented to the vibrant present and promising future of each country, but it will not shy away from the darkest days of the past.
Charles acknowledged the suffering of many, saying, 'I cannot describe the depths of my personal sorrow at the suffering of so many, as I continue to deepen my own understanding of slavery's enduring impact.'
The tour marks the first visit to a Commonwealth country since the start of Charles’ reign, and it is expected to be one of the most challenging for the monarchy due to the ongoing demands for reparations and apologies.
What's confirmed
- "Now, moving to the apology is the next step," said Ali, demanding accountability from the former empire which he said "exploited the region", "destroyed lives" and "created underdevelopment".
What's still developing
- The King and President held talks about the two countries shared interests while Camilla was shown a gallery of images capturing the work of the First Lady’s organization, Mama Doing Good, which focuses on environment and climate action and the economic empowerment of women.
- "Many of those wrongs belong to an earlier age with different – and, in some ways, lesser – values. By working together, we are building a new and enduring friendship."
- “Jamaica is growing up and charting its own course, and the king clearly recognises that,” she says.