Prince Edward and Sophie, Earl and Countess of Wessex, commenced their Caribbean tour on Friday. The royal couple were expected to make a stop at Grenada; that arrangement was later scrapped following consultation with the governor-general. Meanwhile, the Wessexes’ trip is already a major talking point in the Caribbean. There is a growing concern that it may turn out like the Cambridges’ tour of last month.
Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Support Commission Tells The Wessexes “We Are Not Simpletons”
Dorbrene O’Marde, chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Support Commission, has recently taken to Facebook to share an open letter on behalf of the group, directed at the royal couple. In the letter, he admonished the Wessexes to avoid making the same remarks made by other royals.
Royal Nightmare! Sophie And Edward Warned Not To Repeat ‘Phony Sanctimony’ During Their Caribbean Tour
The letter states, “We have been on the receiving end of the barbarity. We hear the phony sanctimony of those who came before you that these crimes are a ‘stain on your history’. For us, they are the source of the genocide and of continuing deep international injury, injustice and racism. We hope you will respect us by not repeating the mantra. We are not simpletons.”
The commission further claimed that they understood that no current royal was born at the peak of the injustice. However, they warned Prince Edward and Sophie to abstain from doing things the wrong way. The Commission’s letter continues, “We know however that everyone in your family continues to live in the splendour, pomp and wealth attained through the proceeds of the crimes.”
The commission labelled the royal tour of the Wessexes as the “goodwill-don’t-leave-us” tour. They also highlighted their frustration on why the royal family have found it difficult to tender their apologies over UK’s part in the slavery that rocked the Caribbean in the past.
The Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Support Commission published the letter due to the backlash that Prince Harry and Kate Middleton experienced on their tour of the Caribbean last month. The Cambridges’ official trip was marred by intensive demonstrations against the sovereignty.
