And while that portion of the visit is cancelled, one group wishes the royals would cancel the entire trip! While the UK press is calling the visit a charm offensive, the UBAD Educational Foundation is saying it's actually downright offensive!
They issued a scathing press release this morning, saying that the, quote, "British colonizers visit to Belize… is an atrocity to our Afrikan ancestors." End quote. They find it revolting that the UK's own press release refers to independent Belize as a "realm" of the United Kingdom.
They also added that the Duke and Duchess have, quote, "di face aah brass" to come to Belize now and that the government is complicit in retraumatizing Afrikan Belizeans by endorsing the visit.
Today we spoke with Sister YaYa Marin Coleman about why the UEF has taken such a strong position.
YaYa Marin Coleman, Chairperson, UEF
"We have the children of the formerly African people who were kidnapped, trafficked, enclaved, tortured, not considered human beings - we are still here. We are those children. The people who did those wrongs to our African ancestors are the children of the people who are coming. The British conquerors, for them to have the face of brass - that's who they are. Some people questioned if they have souls to come back here. The betrayal of the political class has been systemic. We are African people and we are holding the government of Belize accountable. You do not have the legal or the moral right to speak, negotiate anything on behalf of African people in Belize. Look at this other sell out right here. How the bad word you all will welcome those people and to beg from them?"
And one leader who won't be a part of the royal pomp and circumstance is Shyne Barrow. Notably, the leader of the opposition will be in Africa, specifically Liberia, where he will be receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Liberia. He is scheduled to return to Belize on Tuesday, on the same the Duke and Duchess leave Belize.
