“Whereas the reticence of the white world as it relates to reparations and enslavement is much more interesting.”
His remarks reflected the extent to which the reparations debate is expected to dominate discussions when Commonwealth leaders convene, with figures from across the Caribbean signalling that the matter can no longer be sidestepped.
The King’s itinerary in the capital, Georgetown, includes a wreath-laying ceremony at a Commonwealth War Graves site to honour those who gave their lives in the two world wars.
He is also scheduled to hold discussions with indigenous leaders from the National Toshaos Council, the body representing Guyana’s first peoples.
A visit to Kingston Seawall, one of Georgetown’s oldest and most significant landmarks, is also planned. The structure serves as a critical element of the country’s coastal flood defences.
The Guyana leg of the tour forms part of a broader nine-day journey through the Caribbean that will reach its climax in Antigua and Barbuda.
There, Charles will formally open the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in his role as head of what he has described as a “family of nations”, with the legacy of slavery firmly on the agenda.