SHAH ALAM - Well-known leaders in Jamaica including politicians, businessmen and academicians are demanding an apology and slavery reparations as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit former British colonies this week.
The group is rejecting the visit of Prince William and Kate Middleton scheduled today, part of a larger trip to the Caribbean region that coincides with the 60th anniversary of Jamaica's independence and the 70th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
The protest was reported to be organised by Advocates Network, a human rights coalition of Jamaican activists and equalities organisations.
The coalition has also written an open letter signed by major figures in Jamaica calling for the British monarchy to pay slave reparations.
"We note with great concern your visit to our country, Jamaica, during a period when we are still in the throes of a global pandemic and bracing for the full impact of another global crisis associated with the Russian/Ukraine war.
"We see no reason to celebrate 70 years of the ascension of your grandmother to the British throne because her leadership, and that of her predecessors, has perpetuated the greatest human rights tragedy in the history of humankind,” the letter reads.
The letter also highlighted the "crimes against humanity” committed by the British Empire, which included the "exploitation of the Indigenous people of Jamaica, the transatlantic trafficking of Africans, the enslavement of Africans, indentureship and colonisation”.
The royal couple embarked on their weeklong tour of the Caribbean on March 19, visiting Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas.
Although Jamaica has been independent of the United Kingdom since 1962, the country has made strides to become a republic in the past year.
Calls to become a republic also intensified after Barbados became a republic and installed the island’s governor-general, Dame Sandra Mason, as the head of the state, replacing the Queen.
Jamaican human rights activist Kay Osborne was quoted saying that the royal couple was not welcomed and unwanted in Jamaica.
"We reject the photo ops that will be staged here for the UK’s consumption,” she said.
Meanwhile, Jamaica lawmaker Mike Henry, who has long led an effort to obtain reparations that he estimates at more than 7 billion pounds.
Henry told The Associated Press in an interview that an apology was only the first step for what he described as "abuse of human life and labour."
"An apology really admits that there is some guilt," he said.
Hundreds of thousands of African slaves suffered in Jamaica under more than 300 years of British power and faced brutal conditions and experienced were numerous bloody rebellions.
William and Kate are expected to celebrate Bob Marley’s legacy, which angered many Jamaicans.
"As a Rastafarian, Bob Marley embodied advocacy and is recognized globally for the principles of human rights, equality, reparations and repatriation," stated the letter of those demanding an apology.
The Royal couple’s presence in Belize was met with similar criticism when Indigenous Mayan groups revolted against their visit to Akte’il Ha, a sustainable cacao plantation in Indian Creek which resulted in Buckingham Palace canceling it over "sensitive issues”.
According to foreign reports, The Indigenous Q’eqchi Maya people said they were never consulted on their visit and did not grant them permission to access the area via helicopter scheduled to land on a soccer field.
Villagers in Indian Creek were photographed on Friday with signs saying, "Prince William leave our land."