By: Staff Writer
March 22, 2022
Prince William and Duchess Kate arrived in Central America to start their royal tour of the Caribbean on March 19, 2022, in Belize City, Belize amid protests from local farmers.
The couple is on a weeklong tour visiting Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II to mark her Platinum Jubilee celebrating 70.
The couple were reportedly scheduled to visit the Akte’il Ha cacao farm in Indian Creek Belize this past weekend, but the event was suddenly called off on Friday. The royal couple were apparently planning on taking a helicopter to Indian Creek, but residents and the local Q’eqehi Maya people reportedly took issue with their landing site, claiming they had not been consulted. “We don’t want them to land on our land, that’s the message that we want to send,” Indian Creek village chair, Sebastian Shol, told the Daily Mail. “They could land anywhere, but not on our land.” Youth leader Dionisio Shol added, “The organizer said we had to let them use the football field and that people were coming to our village and it had to look good. Giving community leaders commands did not sit well with the community.”
The land itself is also a point of contention. It is technically owned by Flora and Fauna International (FFI), which The Guardian described as “a conservation charity Prince William is a patron of.” The organization reportedly bought the land from private owners in December of 2021, and claimed it wants to preserve local wildlife and protect local residents. However, the Daily Mail reported that there are 12,000 acres of land that FFI has reportedly put aside as “private property,” and is refusing to let the local community take as their own.
Belize is not the only country on the trip that is being ruffled by their intention to visit. Jamaicans are also planning a small protest.
Protesters were planning to make clear the couple were “not welcome” with a protest outside the British High Commission, with local activist Kay Osborne telling the Guardian: “We do not want them here. We reject the photo ops that will be staged here for the UK’s consumption.”
As the couple prepared to head to the country, more than a hundred prominent Jamaicans signed an open letter accusing British royals of perpetrating “the greatest human rights tragedy in the history of humankind”.
It reads: “You, who may one day lead the British monarchy, are direct beneficiaries of the wealth accumulated by the Royal family over centuries, including that stemming from the trafficking and enslavement of Africans.
“You, therefore, have the unique opportunity to redefine the relationship between the British monarchy and the people of Jamaica.
“If you choose to do so, we urge you to start with an apology and recognition of the need for atonement and reparations.”
The letter urges William to apologise “for British crimes against humanity, including but not limited to, the exploitation of the indigenous people of Jamaica, the transatlantic trafficking of Africans (and) the enslavement of Africans, indentureship and colocalisation.”
For the Bahamas experience the reception has not been that vocal as in Belize and Jamaica, but people are concerned about having to pay the cost of the Royal Couple’s arrival after it was revealed that the country would be paying for the couple’s trip. However, this was cleared up later by the Office of the Governor General who released new information saying that the country will only foot a portion of the Royal visit.
However, recent reports are indicating that a local anti-violence activist, Khandi Gibson, is planning a protest when the Royal couple arrives, not against them, but to bring their attention to the plight of murdered victims in the country along with women who have suffered domestic violence and sexual abuse.
Additionally, Bahamians also wished that it was Harry and Meghan that were visiting and not the older brother with Kate. They see Harry as more fun loving and easier to be around as per Harry’s previous visit in 2012 for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
All of this discomfort from Belize and Jamaica could be due to the recent actions of Barbados and its Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, taking the country to Republic status and ditching Queen Elizabeth II and her successors as its Head of State. Jamaicans, particularly, we really ticked off that Barbados did it before them. They felt as if they were the leaders of the region because they had Bob Marley and Usain Bolt.
However, for Caribbean Magazine Plus, we wish nothing but the best for the Royals as they come to visit. I wouldn’t mind seeing them if I wasn’t busy with other stuff, but if granted a formal invite of course I would go.