Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, expressed his support for the decision made by the Bahamas on the political future of the Atlantic archipelago, a constitutional monarchy part of the Commonwealth of Nations, with the British monarch as head of state.
Prince William’s words, released this Saturday, occurred in Nassau, the capital of the Atlantic archipelago, the last stop on a trip through the region of the Dukes of Cambridge in which they have visited former British colonies.
The official trip to the Caribbean and the Atlantic took the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, in addition to the Bahamas, to Belize and Jamaica in an attempt to strengthen British relations with countries in the area while the former colonies pronounce on the possibility of definitively breaking ties with London.
"We proudly support and will respect your decision about the future. Relationships evolve, friendship endures"said Prince William before the Bahamian authorities.
The Atlantic archipelago remained under British rule for nearly 200 years before it was granted independence on July 10, 1973.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II HEAD OF STATE
Queen Elizabeth II remains the head of state of the Bahamas, although her powers are largely symbolic, as she is not involved in day-to-day government, a constitutional function of the elected Parliament and prime ministers.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spent the last day and a half in the Bahamas, on the last leg of their tour of the Caribbean and the Atlantic, a trip that coincides with Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebration for her 70 years on the throne.
Several people demonstrated at the Sybil Strachan Elementary School before the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at this school in New Providence, the island that is home to the capital of the Bahamas, Nassau.
Protesters included members of the Rastafarian community in the Bahamas and the activist group Family of All Murdered Victims (FOAM).
REJECT SPEECH
The Bahamas Reparations Committee rejected Prince William’s speech in his reference to slavery and racism on the grounds that it is not enough, in addition to insisting that a formal acknowledgment of the alleged crimes against humanity by the Bahamas cannot be avoided. the British Royal Family against indigenous populations.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met in Nassau with Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis, who did not directly raise these controversial issues in their presence.
In an interview after the meeting, the prime minister said he had spoken with Prince William about a number of issues of mutual interest, including climate change.
In contrast to the photos and celebration events, the prime minister acknowledged that the royal visit has also generated an anti-colonial sentiment in the region with calls for reparations and for the former colonies to definitively break ties with the Commonwealth of Nations to become republics. .
PARTICIPATE IN REGATTA
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge included a regatta at the Nassau Royal Sailing Club in their visit to the Bahamas, in which they personally participated in separate boats.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also met with health sector workers who have been on the front lines during the covid-19 pandemic.
The couple’s agenda in the Caribbean ran into protests in Belize and Jamaica demanding reparations for slavery.