British royals scrap Grenada leg of Caribbean tour at last minute
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) – Grenada will no longer be among the islands that Prince Edward and Sophie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, will visit on their six-day Queen’s Platinum Jubilee tour, Press Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister Philomena Robertson confirmed on Thursday.
The last-minute change of plans came without explanation, just a day before the couple embarked on their April 22-28 Caribbean tour that also included stops in St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Antigua and Barbuda.
“There was a mutual agreement between the parties to postpone the visit at this time,” Robertson said when asked to explain the reason behind the sudden decision.
Buckingham Palace also did not provide an explanation for the late postponement but acknowledged that it came after consultation with the Government of Grenada and on the advice of the Governor-General who is the Queen’s representative on the island. It also said the couple hoped to visit the island at a later date.
The announcement of the decision to cancel the Grenada leg of the tour came days after Chairman of the Grenada Preparatory Reparations Committee, Arley Gill, wrote to Governor-General Dame Cecile La Grenade requesting an audience with the Earl and Countess to discuss matters specific to the work of the Committee.
“Yes, we wrote requesting an audience, we are awaiting a response and now we are learning that the trip is postponed. I don’t know what is the reason behind this postponement but I believe that our request played a role,” said Gill who believes the recent admission and exhibition by the Bank of England that it once owned slaves on two estates in Grenada did not speak well for the visit.
Research conducted by the Bank found that in the 1770s, the Bank made loans to a merchant company called Alexander & Sons. When the business defaulted on those loans, the Bank came into possession of two plantations in Grenada which had been pledged as security for the loans. They then became the owners of 599 slaves.
It is understood that several citizens were planning a protest during the Earl and Countess of Wessex’s visit.
Their tour of the Caribbean follows the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s controversial visit to the region, a few weeks ago. They faced some criticism and protests when they travelled to Belize, the Bahamas, and Jamaica.
