Royal Lip Service
Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton embarked on a royal visit to some of the former British colonies. These colonies are inclusive of Bahamas, Belize and Jamaica.
Their tours have been met with mixed reactions by persons in each country.
Many have flocked out to wave their hands, whilst others have come out to wave placards.
In Belize, a group of indigenous persons staged a protest against the visit of the royal couple visiting the indigenous persons rightfully stated that this was their traditional land that the British Empire stole from them when their country was renamed British Honduras
In Jamaica, a small gathering of persons assembled outside of the British High Commision to demand apologies for colonialism and reparations for centuries of slavery that enriched the British Empire.
Whilst both causes are just, the sad reality is both the Royal Family and the British Government, will only ever pay lip service to any calls for reparations from Indegenous persons and those descendants of enslaved Africans.
Don't take my word for it.
In 2015 the then British Prime Minister David W.D. Cameron paid a visit to Jamaica. When the subject of reparations was brought up this was his reply: “I do hope that, as friends who have gone through so much together since those darkest of time, we can move on from this painful legacy and continue to build for the future”
Since when did the enslaved and their enslavers become "friends?"
In 2021, Prince Charles travelled to Barbados on the occasion of them becoming a republic. He had this to say “From the darkest days of our past and the appalling atrocity of slavery, which forever stains our history, the people of this island forged their path with exraordinary fortitude.”
Neither the Prime Minister, nor the Prince, mentioned one word about reparations..
Royal Lip Service
The ironic fact of the matter is that the British government has showed a continued pattern of disdain for former and present residents of British Colonies
Don't take my word for it. Here are some historical examples:
- Up until 2002 residents of British colonies, were not allowed to live in the Uk
- In 2018 the British Government, under Theresa M. May attempted to deport hundreds of persons of Caribbean Heritage who were born as British Subjects residing in the UK- This was commonly known as the Windrush Scandal
- Citizens of former British Colonies are not allowed entry in the UK without applying for Visa. Many are turned down
The stark reality is that the Uk, France, Spain, and Holland, all countries that built wealth off of enslavement of Africans, have zero intentions of any form of financial compensation.
Those same countries have given more in financial support to those fleeing Ukraine over the last month, than they have given, or will ever give, to those who are victims of colonialism in 400 years.
Without a doubt, during his tour of the Caribbean, Prince William, the future King, will follow the script and offer the same Royal lip service of his father.
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9 Responses to “Royal Lip Service”
How important is the money, versus what the money represents?
The countries and territories most impacted by slavery are also most impacted by economic shocks and climate change in comparison to the former colonial powers. So is there space for an unmitigated apology for slavery and accompanying funding for climate resilience as a move to fund climate justice moving forward, rather than reparations which looks back (and realistically will never be paid)?
One ray of hope: the recent settling of UK debt to Iran of £400m
Do you think the British are going to get compensation from the Romans, the Saxons, the normans? Stupidness.