Will and Kate delighted crowds in Jamaica this week as they shook hands with the locals and were greeted by members of the military and national dignitaries as they touched down on the island as part of their Caribbean tour.
But it appears Jamaica has not been sparred a noisy handful of woke spoil-sports who demanded the couple to apologize to Jamaicans for the British involvement in the slave trade.
Kate wowed Royal fans as she stepped out of the private jet at Kingstown airport in a stunning, flowing yellow dress in honour of the country’s flag.
The pair had touched down in Jamaica after a tour of Belize, another Commonwealth country, in which Will and Kate danced with locals and were treated to a special, traditional festival.
One Belizean local and festival organizer, Laura Cacho, told the Mirror it was a “dream come true” to dance with William:
“It was fun he was a good dancer and I told him he got the Garifuna culture in him. He did the punta dance better than me!.” she said.
VIDEO: Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton are welcomed by the Garifuna people in Belize on their Caribbean tour. But other indigenous peoples in the country have refused their visit and campaigners in Jamaica hope the pair will apologise for Britain's colonial past pic.twitter.com/mkifou2Yu5
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 22, 2022
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The eight-day tour which included Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas was intended to be a kind of olive branch from the British monarchy to the Caribbean Commonwealth nations following Barbados’ decision to remove the Queen as its head of state.
In Jamaica this week, Will and Kate met with some of England’s famous soccer players including England’s national team member Raheem Sterling. The British athletes trained and played matches with young Jamaican players.
While hundreds of Jamaican locals lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the future King of England, a handful of woke protesters accumiliated outside the British embassy in Jamaica to demand the Royal couple apologize for Britain’s role in the slave trade.
Some waved placards reading “kings, queens, princes and princesses belong in fairy-tales, not in Jamaica”and “dear Will and Kate, the time for you taking from us is over”.
The protest, which was organized by The Advocates Network – a small political activism group in Jamaica said Will and Kate are “complicit because they are positioned to benefit specifically from our ancestors, and we’re not benefitting from our ancestors”.
Members of the audience are reading out the #60Reasons for the Advocates Network call for apologies and reparations for the atrocities of slavery and colonialism. #SehYuhSorry #ReparationsNow #Jamaica60 pic.twitter.com/0bSDOhL7jS
— Advocates Network Jamaica (@Advocatesnetja) March 22, 2022
“The luxury and the lifestyle that they have had and that they continue to have, traipsing all over the world for free with no expense, that is a result of my great, great grandmother and grandfather, their blood and tears and sweat,” said Ms Adisa, a retired professor.
Jamaica entered the British Commonwealth in 1962 following its independence from British rule.
The British Commonwealth comprises of 54 voluntary member nations including India, Singapore, Canada, Australia and South Africa and its member’s citizens amount to around 2.5 billion people.
The Commonwealth’s purpose is not to control or dominate, but to “protect the environment”, “boost trade and economy”, “support democracy and the rule of law”, help to “develop society and young people” and to “support small states”.
Britain was also one of the first Western nations to completely ban slavery in 1807.
The Cambridges will stay in Jamaica until Thursday when they depart for the Bahamas.