In spite of the previous attempt being dismissed as “offensively tone deaf” the UK royal family ostensibly remain determined to drag the Caribbean region to which it owes so much, into its Platinum Jubilee celebrations for its matriarch Elizabeth II. (1)
Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex are scheduled to visit Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines between April 22nd and 28th 2022. However, the tour has had to be reworked in an attempt to avoid the “PR blunders” that occurred during the visit of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge to the Bahamas, Belize and Jamaica last month. (2) But it will continue.
Yet, some of the vibrations emanating from the intended destinations brings into question the wisdom of proceeding at all. Late last year, Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism minister, Charles “Max” Fernandez, said it was time to follow Barbados and become a republic “as soon as possible. We have to get past the final chapter of a tie to a country that had our people in slavery.” (3) Meanwhile in St. Lucia, the National Reparations Committee (NRC), headed by Bro. Earl Bousquet, vowed to ensure that the “Royals get Reparations Message While Here!” This is in addition to calls from human rights Lawyer Sis. Mary Francis repeating the call for Elizabeth II to be removed as Saint Lucia’s Head of State, adding “That’s a position held by more people now than ever.” (4)
A similar message can be heard from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, still dealing with the effects of the La Soufrière volcanic eruption last year (5), now having to contend with a visit from the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha tribe. The island that has been termed “the modern-day capitol of the reparations movement,” also has a well-established opposition to the UK royal family. Indeed, in response to the 2019 visit from Elizabeth II’s eldest son Charles, Jomo Thomas lawyer, broadcaster and former Speaker of the House of Assembly of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in a searing historical treatise remarked:
“Charles should not have been greeted here. Not now. Not ever. We should have made an excuse, any diplomatic nicety as a rationale for why it would have been inopportune or inconvenient to accommodate him at this time… [he] should have left here with the inconvenient truth pounding in his head that the comfort, wealth and riches which he and his ilk enjoy came from our people’s labour.” (6)
There certainly seems to be a consistent message from the different islands vis-à-vis the history legacy of the UK royal family in the Caribbean. (7) But calls for republicanism aren’t necessarily being advanced with concomitant calls to leave the Commonwealth (e.g. Barbados remains in the Commonwealth) even though membership of such is being used the UK to dismiss reparations claims. (8)
(1) Nadine White (23/03/33) William and Kate’s royal visit to the Caribbean is offensively tone deaf. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/william-kate-royal-tour-caribbean-colonialism-b2042293.html?utm_content=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR1lVjTaS51P0a5o7Y_aXO-OH25ddLtwjuG7YySSycFspU_L1x_Usp4XmHI#Echobox=1648056486
(2) Natalie Oliveri (03/04/22) Palace ‘quietly shelves’ parts of new Caribbean tour after PR blunders during Cambridge visit. https://honey.nine.com.au/royals/cambridge-caribbean-tour-blunders-forces-palace-rethink-of-next-royal-tour-by-sophie-countess-wessex-prince-edward/6945289b-f414-42fc-a19a-a6b3f64a4dc2
(3) Ibid.
(4) The Voice St. Lucia News (07/04/22) NRC will Ensure Royals get Reparations Message While Here! https://thevoiceslu.com/2022/04/nrc-will-ensure-royals-get-reparations-message-while-here/
(5) D. Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (19/04/21) What Caused the St. Vincent Volcano Eruption? https://www.alkebulan.org/2021/04/19/aswag-328-svg-volcano/; Loop News (11/04/22) IFRC: Recovery efforts continue in St Vincent from volcano eruption. https://caribbean.loopnews.com/content/ifrc-recovery-efforts-continue-st-vincent-volcano-eruption
(6) Jomo Sanga Thomas (23/03/19) Plain Talk by Jomo Sanga Thomas – A reparationist response to Prince Charles visit? https://annsvg.com/index.php/2019/03/23/plain-talk-by-jomo-sanga-thomas-a-reparationist-response-to-prince-charles-visit/
(7) Kris Manjapra (24/03/22) For the Royals, slavery is a family affair. They need to show remorse, not sorrow, for their role in its history. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-for-the-royals-slavery-is-a-family-affair-they-need-to-show-remorse/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=Referrer%3A%20Social%20Network%20%2F%20Media&utm_campaign=Shared%20Web%20Article%20Links&fbclid=IwAR0c_xvOIqKBTbrWqL0kPB5mNepvQiqWebUGNX5PgZ1v6XU1amlZI17Ay1M
(8) Owen Bowcott and Ian Cobain (24/02/14) UK sternly resists paying reparations for slave trade atrocities and injustices. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/24/uk-resists-reparation-slavery
we ask the question:
Caribbean Royal Tour: Should it be scrapped?
1) Is the visit still “tone deaf” in spite of the changes?
2) Is becoming a republic really “a position held by more people now than ever” in the region?
3) Do Caribbean countries need to leave the Commonwealth as well becoming republics? What are the benefits of staying?
4) Where is the Caribbean reparations strategy at now?
Our Special Guests:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of almost 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.
Bro. Dorbrene O’Marde: is currently the Chairman for the Antigua and Barbuda Reparation Support Commission and also serves as the Vice-Chair of the CARICOM Reparations Commission. He is a recognized cultural worker throughout the Caribbean region. He is best known as playwright, director and producer (theatre and music), newspaper/magazine columnist, speaker and a calypso writer, judge and analyst.
Bro. Jomo Sanga Thomas: is a reparations activist, lawyer, writer, broadcaster and former Speaker of the House of Assembly of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
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