British King Charles III's visit to the Caribbean has been somewhat awkward.
Before the visit, the British side had clearly stated that Charles would not formally apologize for the history of the slave trade. Unexpectedly, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham suddenly changed his stance, publicly expressing a willingness to consider an apology. While the prime minister changed his mind, the king has no right to decide whether to apologize on his own. Therefore, Charles, who is currently visiting the Caribbean, faces even greater public pressure.
According to the British 'The Daily Telegraph', reported on October 31 local time, Bernard recently wrote in the 'Guardian' that he is 'open-minded' towards the UK's call for an official apology for the history of slavery, and is prepared to engage in formal dialogue with countries and relevant organizations affected by the slave trade.
However, although Bernam is willing to apologize, he explicitly refused to pay any financial compensation.
He claims that it is not possible to demand that today's British people bear responsibility for historical crimes that occurred in the past, as these events took place in different times and under different legal systems, and contemporary Britons were not directly involved in them.
As an alternative approach, Burnham proposed promoting debt restructuring for Commonwealth poverty-stricken countries, helping these countries to extend their repayment periods and reduce financing costs. He also plans to invite former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to participate in the related efforts.
The Prime Minister is willing to apologize, but reluctant to pay compensation. This statement immediately attracted external attention: Is Burnham planning to offer a formal apology this week? What should King Charles do?
The Daily Telegraph states that for now, neither of the two individuals will make a formal apology. However, Burnham’s change in attitude has put more pressure on Charles.
Charles is visiting the Bahamas, Guyana, and Antigua and Barbuda this time, and will be attending the Commonwealth Government Summit. According to the arrangements announced previously, he will discuss the history of the slave trade in a “straightforward and honest manner” at the conference, but will not offer an official apology.
Buckingham Palace has previously emphasized that whether or not to apologize for the history of slavery falls within the scope of government decisions, and is not something the King can decide alone. A source even stated bluntly that deciding whether to pay compensation for slavery “is not the King’s job”.
According to reports, Buckingham Palace was already aware of Burnham’s intention to make a public statement. The statement had been in the works for several months, but according to British constitutional traditions, the royal family has not revealed how much Charles himself agrees with the prime minister’s position.
Regarding Bernamus's statement, the Caribbean nations do not intend to be satisfied with it.
For a long time, Caribbean countries have demanded that European former colonies such as Britain apologize officially for the transatlantic slave trade and bear responsibility for the damages caused by slavery and colonial rule.
The Caribbean Community previously proposed a ten-point compensation plan for slavery, which included formal apologies, public health, education, cultural heritage, technology transfer, and debt relief. In July of this year, the leaders of the Caribbean Community approved a revised compensation scheme.
According to The Guardian, Britain once transported about 3.2 million African slaves across the Atlantic Ocean. Caribbean nations believe that the poverty, social inequality, and development obstacles caused by the slave trade and colonial rule still affect them today.
Bernam's statement was cautiously welcomed by some Caribbean leaders, but they expressed dissatisfaction with Britain's refusal to accept financial compensation.
António Guterres, Chairman of the Compensation Support Commission for Antigua and Barbuda, stated that while Barnabé's statement was a step in the right direction, he explicitly opposed the UK excluding financial compensation from the discussion.
Former Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves said that while apologies are necessary, they are not enough.
He questioned that if Britain simply refuses to discuss compensation, then what can both parties even talk about?
Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Brown welcomed the UK's proposals for debt restructuring and cooperation in renewable energy, but emphasized that the Caribbean region's long-standing stance on slavery compensation issues remains unchanged.
On October 31, the rotating chairperson of the Caribbean Community and Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Philip Pierre, issued a further statement, emphasizing that a formal apology is only the first step, and that debt relief should not be used as a substitute for compensation for slavery.
The statement indicates that the Caribbean region continues to bear the consequences of slavery and colonialism, affecting various aspects such as public health, education, economic development, and debt. Caribbean countries are willing to seriously consider Britain’s proposal for debt restructuring, but the discussions must include full compensation demands, and compensation should not be excluded from the initial negotiations.
"An apology without mitigation measures is incomplete." Statement said.
There are also different opinions within the UK. The leader of the opposition party, Keem Baydnoch, clearly opposes Bernam's stance.
For Charles, the history of the slave trade was not his first challenge.
In November 2018, Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales, visited Christianborg in Ghana. He passed by the "Door of No Return," where African slaves were trafficked through history. He later described the slave trade as "a horrible atrocity" and a "very painful chapter in history."
Following this, Charles publicly expressed sorrow over the history of slave trade numerous times, but never officially apologized on behalf of Britain.
During this trip to the Caribbean, the issue of slave compensation also became a focus of protest activities.
According to The Daily Telegraph, in Antigua, activists plan to set up billboards along the roads where the royal procession will pass, hold up banners, and shout slogans, demanding that the UK face up to its history of slavery and address compensation issues.
The issue of slavery even affected the specific arrangements for royal visits.
The local organizers originally suggested that a marching band be arranged during the king’s visit to the Independence Park, to create a festive atmosphere for the children participating in the sports activities on that day.
However, this proposal was ultimately rejected with courtesy and determination. The reason was that Charles planned to hold a moment of silence and reflection at the site where slaves were once executed.
As Charles arrives in Antigua, it is expected that the scale of local protests will increase, and the debates related to this issue will become more intense.
A senior assistant to Buckingham Palace said that Charles is willing to conduct interviews involving complex issues and relationships, and sees himself as a defender of the interests of Britain, its Commonwealth countries, and the broader Commonwealth community.
One of the many advantages of constitutional monarchical rule is its ability to transcend politics, according to this assistant.
The Daily Telegraph points out that the Commonwealth currently has 56 member states. In addition to disputes over slavery compensation, it also faces issues such as rising sea levels, aging infrastructure, and changes in the global power dynamics.
The newspaper concluded that, although King Charles had considerable influence, he did not have the power to make decisions regarding compensation for slavery. The king could not decide on behalf of the government, and it was the British government that must clarify its position on this issue.
