King Charles acknowledging slave trade suffering in Bahamas speech 'falls far short' say campaigners

King Charles acknowledging slave trade suffering in Bahamas speech 'falls far short' say campaigners The monarch acknowledged the 'great suffering and injustices of the past' on the first day of his Caribbean tour, but an advocate group has claimed the comments 'fall short of what justice requires' Campaigners say King Charles' acknowledgment of great suffering of slave trade 'falls far short of what justice requires', as monarch kicks off Caribbean tour. On the first day of his nine-day trip to the region, the King delivered a moving address, acknowledging the ‘great suffering’ the Bahamas has faced due to the British slavery trade and years of colonial rule. Arriving in the island nation on Tuesday, the monarch gave a speech at the Future Bahamas Youth Rally and Exhibition at Clifford Park, the historic site where the Bahamas officially gained its Independence in 1973. During his speech, he spoke about Britain’s history in the Caribbean, while stopping short of issuing an apology. Ahead of Charles’ visit to the region, calls increased for the monarch to deliver a formal apology for the role of Britain and the Royal Family ’s role in the historic slave trade in the Caribbean. As a result, the King spoke frankly about the issue during his first engagement after touching down in the country. During his address, he said: "Some of what is best in Bahamian culture today, the most joyful, the most hopeful, the most bright was born out of darkness. “It is only right that we should acknowledge the great suffering and injustices of the past in these islands and beyond, even as we rejoice in the successes of the present and build new opportunities for the future. I know leaders of the governments of affected Commonwealth countries will be discussing these matters in Antigua and Barbuda next week.” While the King received a mostly warm welcome from the people of the Bahamas when he touched down yesterday, there were also a group of protesters on the ground carrying placards with the words: “Pay us what you owe us”. And following Charles’ speech, the Bahamas National Reparations Committee issued a scathing statement, saying the monarch’s comments ‘fall short of what justice requires’. The organisation said: “Our culture is not born out of darkness; our culture was born out of agency and out of the will to survive despite the horrors, trauma and degradation. Our culture is a testament to the power of the human spirit, not simply a reaction to the worst examples of it. “We therefore do not need King Charles to tell us how outstanding our culture is … We need him to speak about his role in the darkness and how he plans to atone for it actively. The royal family and the British government were responsible for the darkness. His comments fall short of what justice requires – a full and formal apology – and they do not speak to the steps needed to remedy the wrongs committed in the name of the crown he wears.” In the weeks before the King’s arrival, the Bahamas National Reparations Committee has warned the King not to arrive “empty-handed” and wants a formal apology for the Crown’s links to slavery and colonialism. Its chair, Dr Niambi Hall Campbell-Dean, told the Mirror : “For [King Charles] to come to our island and not be prepared to apologise for the wrongs of the past is unacceptable.” Guyana President Mohamed Irfaan Ali said recently Charles had recognised slavery as the darkest days in human history - but moving to the apology was "the next step". In response, Buckingham Palace has said the King will not issue a formal apology, but will take part in reflections of the region’s past and links to the slave trade. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "At the request of host Governments, The King’s programme will primarily focus on shining a light on the many modern partnerships and opportunities for the future that are having a transformative effect on the region, as it confronts the challenges of today. "For His Majesty, this tour is both a new journey but also the continuance of a lifelong one, in which he has sought to engage, understand and educate about the most shameful aspects of our past. This will therefore also be reflected in differing ways and words during the tour, as you would expect." Throughout the remainder of the monarch's visit - which will see him visit Guyana before heading to Antigua and Barbuda to attend CHOGM - he will acknowledge the slave trade and will hold moments of reflection, while the topic of reparations is likely to continue throughout the tour. Charles’ speech comes after prime minister Andy Burnham rejected calls for Britain to pay slavery reparations. As the King touched down in the Bahamas, a spokesperson for Burnham said: “We fully acknowledge the devastating tragedy of the transatlantic slave trade and we recognise that its legacy continues to shape lives, communities and societies today. “We cannot change our past but we can and we will continue a dialogue with all of our partners on legacies of the past… But I must be clear that we will not pay reparations.” King Charles follows the guidance of his ministers, and it is understood the government has not advised him to offer an apology or reparations, in keeping with established policy. Since ascending the throne, Charles has spoken candidly about the slavery trade under British rule during numerous overseas engagements. During a trip to Samoa in 2024, the King acknowledged the past "continues to resonate" but exhorted leaders to find “the right language” rather than committing to an apology or reparations. He also previously called slavery an “atrocity” which “forever stains our history” on a trip to Barbados in 2021. The following year, he described how he was on a personal journey of discovery and was continuing to “deepen my own understanding of slavery’s enduring impact”, in a speech at the opening of a Commonwealth summit hosted by Rwanda. Meanwhile, last month, the King referred a landmark slavery reparations petition from Jamaica to the Privy Council for legal advice. Britain’s Royal Family has a long association with the transportation and selling of enslaved people for profit, with their involvement in slavery dating back to the 16th century. In 1562, John Hawkins was the first known English person to include enslaved Africans in his cargo, a journey that was approved by Elizabeth I. In 1660, the Royal African Company was established by the Duke of York, who later became James II, with involvement from his brother, Charles II. The company’s charter said the initials “DY” for Duke of York were branded on the left buttock or breast of many of the slaves the company shipped to what were called the “sugar islands” in the Caribbean. In 1807, UK Parliament passed the Slave Trade Act, which made it illegal to buy or transport enslaved people across the Atlantic within the British Empire. In 1834, the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 took effect, formally ending slavery for most enslaved people in the Caribbean.