The Bahamas National Reparations Committee has demanded that the Royal Family and UK government 'must pay' and acknowledge that its 'diverse economy was built on the back of [its] ancestors'.
Prince William and his wife Catherine are set to visit the Caribbean country tomorrow, 24 March, as part of their week-long tour to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee.
The tour sees them visit the three Commonwealth nations of the Bahamas, Belize, and Jamaica.
However, ahead of the Cambridges' official visit, the Bahamas National Reparations Committee (BNRC) – which is part of the CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC) – has written a letter to gain a 'clear understanding of what this [the visit] truly means' and to declare 'the time is now for reparations'.
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While applauding the Organizing Committee for doing a 'stellar job in accommodating the British Royal Family', the committee questioned: "However, once William and Kate have passed over the newly paved roads, driven by the freshly painted walls, and waved to the schoolchildren who have been pulled out of their classes to stand and watch them go by, what will the Bahamian people be left with?"
The committee went on to ask why the Bahamas are 'footing the bill for the benefit of a regime whose rise to "greatness" was fuelled by the extinction, enslavement, colonization, and degradation of the people of this land?'
"Why are we being made to pay again?" it said.
Accusing the monarchy of having 'looted and pillaged' the land of the Bahamas and its people 'for centuries', it has subsequently called for 'reparatory justice' including 'a full and formal apology' from all European governments 'for their crimes against humanity' and for the UK government and Royal Family to pay.
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Quoting the words of Tony McKay, a.k.a. Exumua the Obeah Man, it concluded: "Pay for me my blood in the water. Pay for me for my son and my daughter. Pay me for my brothers and sisters. Pay me for all of my dead. Pay me for the blood that you shed. Pay me what you owe me. I come to collect everything that you owe me."
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were met by more 350 protesters when they touched down in Kingston, Jamaica, yesterday, March 23, The Independent reports.
Opal Adisa, one of the organisers of the protest and a Jamaican human rights activist, stated: "Kate and William are beneficiaries, so they are, in fact, complicit because they are positioned to benefit specifically from our ancestors, and we’re not benefitting from our ancestors.
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“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.”
Similarly to the Bahamas, last year, Jamaica announced plans to demand reparations amounting to £7.6 billion from Britain for its trafficking of around 12 million Africans to fill the pockets of British slave holders.
A royal source has stated that Prince William is expected to give a speech today, March 23, in which he will address the unrest.
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The Bahamas National Reparations Committee concluded: The Duke and Duchess may not be compelled to make such a declaration during their visit to our shores. They may not be able at this time to speak on behalf of the Queen and their Government at this time.
“However, they can no longer ignore the devastation of their heritage. They and their family of Royals and their Government must acknowledge that their diverse economy was built on the backs of our ancestors. And then, they must pay."
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Topics: Royal Family
Poppy Bilderbeck