King Charles III is set to begin a Caribbean tour this week as pressure mounts on Britain to confront the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade and consider reparations for its historical role.
The King and Queen Camilla are scheduled to visit the Bahamas and Guyana before travelling to Antigua and Barbuda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, known as CHOGM.
The October 27 to November 4 tour comes as several Caribbean nations intensify calls for discussions on compensation and other forms of redress over the lasting effects of slavery and colonialism.
The issue is expected to feature prominently at the Commonwealth gathering, with Caribbean leaders seeking to have reparations formally placed on the agenda.
At the 2022 Commonwealth leaders’ meeting, King Charles expressed his personal sorrow over the suffering caused by slavery, an issue expected to resurface during his latest visit to the region.
The Caribbean Community, CARICOM, which comprises 23 member and associate member states, including the Bahamas, Barbados and Jamaica, has renewed its push for discussions on reparations.
CARICOM Secretary-General Carla Barnett said the demand was rooted in the pursuit of justice, recognition and accountability for the suffering endured by Africans who were enslaved during the colonial era.
She said reparations should also help address inequalities that continue to affect the descendants of those who suffered under slavery.
Buckingham Palace has indicated that King Charles will acknowledge Britain’s historical involvement in the transatlantic slave trade during the visit.
However, the monarch is not expected to issue a formal apology or announce financial compensation, in line with the British government’s position rejecting calls for reparations.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said King Charles had spent years acknowledging historical wrongs and supporting efforts to address inequalities that continue to affect communities today.
Meanwhile, Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey said discussions on reparations were necessary, whether through financial payments or other measures, including the return of cultural artefacts.
Botchwey also suggested that an apology from the King could be appropriate.
Speaking to Sky News, she said an apology “wouldn’t hurt to have that,” noting that King Charles remains head of state in several Caribbean countries, including the Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda.
Between the 15th and 19th centuries, at least 12.5 million Africans were forcibly taken from the continent and sold into slavery by European traders.
Britain is estimated to have transported about 3.2 million enslaved Africans, making it the second-largest European participant in the transatlantic slave trade after Portugal.
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