Prince William and Kate Middleton’s The Caribbean tour ran into trouble right behind the gates, after Belizean locals protested against the couple’s plan to land a helicopter in their village before touring the cocoa farm.
Based on Mirrorthat before report In the news, the natives of the Indian Creek village were also upset about the prince’s relationship with a conservation charity called Flora and Fauna International, which was controversial among some members of the population.
The couple canceled their visit to the farm.
William and Kate are embarking on a tour of Belize, the Bahamas and Jamaica, a trip that the British press sees as an attempt to promote the British Crown. Last year, the nearby island of Barbados relinquish royal and became a republic.
According to Belize outlet 7 NewsIndian Creek Village was in “public conflict” with FFI, “whose owner of an adjoining property is in dispute.”
The publication notes that discontent emerges “in the context of ongoing agitation… about the meaning of consent in the context of communal land rights. Those rights to the lands were stripped by the British during the colonial period”.
In a statement quoted by GuardiansThe FFI said it bought the disputed land from a private party last winter but is committed to “open and ongoing dialogue” with locals. According to the paper, the FFI has committed to continuing to “conserve and protect the wildlife in the area while supporting the livelihoods and traditional rights of local people.”
The president of the village, Sebastian Shol, still opposes the arrival of the royal family, speak Daily mail“We don’t want them to land on our land, that’s the message we want to send. They can land anywhere but not on our land.”
Earlier this week, another resident of the village was photographed holding a sign that said read: “Prince William Stopped Helping FFI [take] our land.”
Even without a cocoa tour, the royal couple’s trip to the Caribbean is expected to continue smoothly. They are expected to visit Belize for the weekend, followed by a meeting with the country’s prime minister.
