After three days in Belize, Kate Middleton and Prince William traveled to Jamaica on Tuesday for the rest of the Caribbean tour. In addition to the ceremonial receptions and greetings from local celebrities, the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge was accompanied by a protest taking place a few miles away in Jamaica's capital, Kingston.
The protest outside the British High Commission is said to have been organized by the Bar Association, a coalition of Jamaican activists and human rights organizations. The Coalition wrote an open letter signed by prominent figures in Jamaica calling for the British monarchy to pay reparations for slaves as the country marks the 60th anniversary of its independence from the UK.
There have been ongoing protests in Jamaica demanding the removal of Queen Elizabeth II from the post of head of state. Jamaica still remains part of the Commonwealth (political organization comprising almost all the former territories of the British Empire).
A source inside the kingdom told the Guardian that the duke was aware of the protests and was expected to acknowledge the issue of slavery in a speech Wednesday night during a dinner hosted by the governor-general of Jamaica.
Opal Adisa, a Jamaican human rights lawyer who helped organize the protest, also called for an apology, saying: "Kate and William are beneficiaries, so they are, in fact, collaborators because they are positioned benefit specifically from our ancestors and we are not benefiting from our ancestors.
She added: "Look, we have nothing personally against Kate and Prince William, even the Queen, on this issue, but we are simply saying that you have made a mistake and it is time for you to admit that you made a mistake and when you do, you have to correct them. ”
The protests in Jamaica are part of what is being seen as historic change. Another Caribbean country, Barbados, severed ties with the queen in November when it was declared a republic. The first and current president is Sandra Mason, a lawyer, politician and diplomat who has previously served as governor general.
