The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set to arrive in the Bahamas today, the final leg of their Caribbean tour. But many believe their visit is to strengthen the monarchy as some island nations consider removing Queen Elizabeth as head of state.
It’s been four months since Barbados became a republic following in the footsteps of Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Dominica.
Now Jamaica is in discussions to do the same. On Wednesday during Williams’ visit to the country, Prime Minister Andrew Holness told him “we’re moving on.”
“We intend to fulfill our true ambition of being an independent, fully developed and prosperous country.”
Before the visit, reports circulated that Holness had already given instructions to reform his country’s constitution to make the island-nation a republic.
Cries have become louder as more Caribbean nations express their willingness to abandon Britain while citizens have condemned its association with the slave trade and colonialism.
At the ceremony in Barbados marking the country’s transition, Williams’ father Prince Charles acknowledged the “appalling atrocity of slavery which forever stains our history.”
Though Barbados has become a republic, it still remains part of the Commonwealth nations.
The Queen’s youngest son, Prince Edward and his wife the Countess of Wessex will visit other Caribbean countries in April– Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Photo credit: Belle on Twitter (The couple on a parade in Jamaica before leaving for the Bahamas)
“From the darkest days of our past and the appalling atrocity of slavery which forever stains our history, people of this island forged their path with extraordinary fortitude,” Prince Charles said.