William and Kate accused of ‘colony hopping’ ahead of Jamaica visit

Prince William and Kate could catch heat on reparations as well as deportations when they visit Jamaica this spring

PRINCE WILLIAM and Kate Middleton have been accused of “colony hopping” as opposition grows to their forthcoming visit to the Caribbean.

Campaigners have speculated that the government may be considering delaying a deportation flight to Jamaica until after the royal couple have departed, an allegation the Home Office strongly refute.

William and Kate’s visit to Jamaica, the Bahamas and Belize follows three controversial deportation charter flights to Jamaica last year, with the last one being roundly condemned as a disaster when the plane left with just four deportees after all others had been taken off the flight by the courts.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as they embark on a 12-day tour next month ahead of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations this summer.

The trip is reportedly in a bid to “strengthen” relations between the British monarchy and the countries in the Commonwealth.

Their visit to Jamaica is likely to be particularly contentious as the government continues to reject the growing chorus demanding reparations for enslavement and colonialism.

Previously, the government’s attempt to repatriate prisoners who were serving sentences in the UK to Jamaican jails in return for aid ran into hot water amid claims that Britain was misrepresenting the deal.

ROYAL RIFF: Prince William and Kate are due to visit Jamaica in reported efforts to stop them ditching the Queen as head of state

Social media reaction to the royal visit. @yoon_strawberry wrote on Twitter: “It’s…hypocritical of William and Kate to be colony hopping. The tone deafness and utter vileness is appalling.”

@SussexRoyalGlow wrote: “These people that try to persuade us that Meghan Markle was welcomed with open arms. Yes she was. When the cameras were rolling. They’re good at pretending. Jamaican needs to open its eyes and think carefully about if The Royal Family really cares about its people.”

Karen Doyle, a campaigner and organiser at Movement for Justice, said the absence of a deportation flight was “unusual” at this time of year. 

“This is the first time since they [the Home Office] restarted the flights in 2019 that they haven’t done the January, February flight,” she said.

It is unusual and that’s why people…the families are trying to look for a reason for it. If it’s true, it shows how political these flights really are and that the Jamaican government can refuse them when they want.”

Ms Doyle went on to tell The Voice that she is grateful for the “break” between deportation flights amidst the growing speculation.

“It’s too soon after the last flight [for another deportation to go ahead]. It’s always a really hard fight in February, so I’m glad,” she added. 

“And of course, all of the families are relieved because everyone is panicking towards the end of January, beginning of February. It’s very, very stressful. So everyone’s breathing a little bit freer at the moment.”

Speaking last year ahead of the chart flight of detainees – dubbed the “Jamaica50” – Jamaica’s high commissioner in London, Seth Ramocan, said: “From a human rights perspective I am deeply concerned about cases in which persons are being removed having lived in the UK since childhood and have no known relations in Jamaica or familiarity with Jamaica.

The Royal couple’s Caribbean tour comes after Barbados ditched the Queen as it became a republic in November last year, cutting 400-years of colonial ties with the monarchy. The move fueled calls for Jamaica to follow suit.

The Royal tour will be to promote environmental issues, but it is also understood that the move is in line with the Monarch’s plans to dampen other countries still in the “Commonwealth Realms” making the move towards republicanism.

William and Kate could also face protests in Jamaica over growing calls for Britain to pay reparations for enslavement and colonialism.

Jamaica has previously shared their desire to also ditch their long association with the Queen and follow in the footsteps of Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Dominica.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The claims in this article are incorrect and it is disappointing to see this kind of misinformation reported without evidence or contacting the Home Office.

“We do not comment on operational matters, but removal flights do not operate on a fixed pattern and to suggest otherwise is misleading.

“Our New Plan for Immigration is committed to welcoming those in genuine need while remaining firm on those who seek to abuse the system.”

UPDATE (22/2/22): This article was updated in light of the Home Office insistence that claims that a deportation flight to Jamaica was being delayed due to the Royal visit was “not true.” If we do see a deportation flight to Jamaica in the months following the visit, this will be duly noted in terms of accepting the Home Office word going forward on this topic.

Comments Form

14 Comments

  1. | Stepup

    What are the families planning to do about the visit by way of protest.
    However, Jamaica need to grow some and stop welcoming white slavers to your island, it’s embarrassing seeing how they are carrying out the deportations not to mention the manner in which they have treated the only biracial member of the family.

    Reply

    • | Sandra brown

      I hope this government “don’t form no fool” of itself and “Tek no shame face an shake kokobeh hand”… Blood already a boil. One or the other must GO AWAY FROM US.

      Reply

    • | Fred

      Don’t know why people keep bringing up this biracial woman up as if she should be any of our concern.
      Firstly she’s mixed American not Jamaican and secondly (from all accounts) she spent her entire life having nothing to do with black people other than her mother.
      We don’t have a vested interest here.
      As far as im concerned there is no difference between her and the rest of the British royal family.

      Reply

  2. | Naomi Arona Trowers

    The worlds Government are ran by LIARS MURDERS and THIEVES
    The home office Windrush scheme have set a precedent by paying compensation to Windrush claimants in 2021
    They have now decided if the citizenship certificate was granted then they will not reimburse the fee

    I believe that if previous claimants were compensated for getting their citizenship certificates then All claimants should be paid the same amount

    Reply

  3. | Sandra Franklin

    It should have been Harry and Meghan they would have a better reception from the people of the Caribbean because they relate more to the younger generation and the young people love Meghan. She is a very intelligent women who can relate across all cultures and age. I just came back from Jamaica and all they talk about has far as the Royal Family goes, is Megan and Harry.

    Reply

  4. | Maureen Roberts

    The BRF & UK gvt still feel they have an Empire to run with subservient black people, just waiting to bow down to them! These two arrogant & racist members of the RF that BULLIED Out’ the only biracial Woman of color to join the Firm are the Worst representative to come to JA, they dont give a 💩 about nobody! But they will put on an ACT!

    Reply

    • | Carmen Morris

      The central guestion is how will this visit benefit Jamaica?

      Reply

  5. | Maria

    My God our people are still living in mental slavery we need Freedom too long look how they have treated our people are they not satisfied 400 years of Slavery not enough they chase Megan away and still imprisoning our people when they destroy all there landing papers

    Reply

    • | Millie

      The Queen is doing not a lot for Jamaica and rightly they should remove her as head of state and certainly should not have Charles.

      That said for those with short memories- the royal family did not chase out a biracial women-they gave her/them a choice which was to be full time working royals or do your own thing in Hollywood to earn £££££. They choose the latter-it’s was all on their own website Sussex Royal. They wanted to Stay as Part time working royals and part time celebrities.

      Later we had the revised version on Oprah that they left due to lack of support (they think we have no memory or google to check back to THEIR statements on THEIR platforms). They also said a lot of other far fetched things on Oprah so much so even Oprah has taken her “best interview of her career off her website.” Vanished into a puff of smoke-I wonder why?

      Good for Jamaica! Australia will follow suit along with may other countries-it’s a new dawn and inevitable as the queen was the big pull! Iconic but she will not reign forever!!

      Reply

  6. | Concerned observer

    It’s 2022. Why would any nation of people of African descent bow down to the UK? Especially in light of the scandalous treatment of Meghan.

    Reply

  7. | guest

    Dump the royals and punish them for their terrible abuse during colonialism, neo-colonialism, and their treatment of Meghan Markle, who is biracial.

    Reply

  8. | Kay

    Shame on you Jamaica, shame on you for agreeing to this visit. Add to this that the last prime minister to visit Jamaica, David Cameron, went there bearing the gift of funding for a PRISON. His refusal to discuss reparations for slavery was tantamount to spitting in our faces. To the colonial masters we represent a plantation turned penal colony.

    Reply

  9. | Belle

    Sorry to say say, but if it wasn’t for the British, they would have been in Africa! At least the British pirate emigrated them from Africa to beautiful Island of Jamaica!
    The African leaders sold their own people into slavery.

    https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2009/nov/18/africans-apologise-slave-

    I do not hear the indigenous and Native American asking for reparations and they loss more when the white man arrive on lands of Americas

    Reply

  10. | Belle

    Sorry to say say, but if it wasn’t for the British, they would have been in Africa! At least the British pirate emigrated them from Africa to beautiful Island of Jamaica!
    The African leaders sold their own people into slavery.

    I do not hear the indigenous and Native American asking for reparations and they loss more when the white man arrive on land of Americas.”

    https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2009/nov/18/africans-apologise-slave-trade

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*
*

Support The Voice

The Voice Newspaper is committed to celebrating black excellence, campaigning for positive change and informing the black community on important issues. Your financial contributions are essential to protect the future of the publication as we strive to help raise the profile of the black communities across the UK. Any size donation is welcome and we thank you for your continued support.

Support Sign-up