Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines Dr Ralph Gonsalves believes British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak should support the issue of reparations and slavery apology for the role Britain played in the slave trade.
Gonsalves made the call in an interview with Channel 4 News where he was questioned extensively on the King’s coronation, the British Monarchy and reparations.
The Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines said as an individual he has an appreciation for King Charles but pointed out he (Gonsalves) is also a proponent of reparations for native genocide and the enslavement of African bodies.
Asked whether he would like to see the King apologise, Gonsalves responded with the question, “Will the British political directorate allow the King to apologise?”
Questioned on whether he would like to see the Prime Minister apologise, the Caribbean leader said:
“Of course. The Dutch Prime Minister can do it. You want to tell me a European Dutch Prime Minister can do it but a man of Indian descent can’t do it?
Ah…I will find that strange.”
Gonsalves was then asked, “Would you expect a Prime Minister of Indian heritage to be more forthcoming on this issue?”
He responded: “I would expect so. I believe he would have a great understanding of this issue. I’m not in his shoes so I don’t know what are the restraints… what are the constraints. But I am absolutely sure he will have a profound understanding of this matter.”
And while the British monarch is currently St Vincent and the Grenadines’ monarch, Gonsalves revealed that during the King’s coronation, he did not recite certain oaths.
“We do not swear any more an oath to his Majesty… we swear allegiance to the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
I would like to see very much a severing of this link, with the British monarch.
I don’t accept and cannot accept that someone who is born in the United Kingdom, grows up in United Kingdom, lives in the United Kingdom, can be the king of St Vincent and the Grenadines.” (Loop News).
