Is The Coronation Relevant To Caribbean Nationals?

constant which is not impacted by changing political parties from elections.”

Pillaged And Plundered

Jamaican Journalist, Barbara Ellington, has a totally different perspective.

“Although it appears

BY DAWN A. DAVIS

The official coronation of Charles, III on May 6, 2023, as King of the United Kingdom, and the Commonwealth realms, including several Caribbean countries, will be celebrated across Britain with public events, street parties, and special functions.

The crowning event, attended by other members of the Royal family, celebrities, friends, and heads of state, will mark Charles’ formal ascendancy to the throne, replacing Queen Elizabeth, II, after her death on September 8, 2022.

There are currently 54 Commonwealth nations and 12 sovereign Caribbean Island nations including: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. However, Barbados, Guyana, Dominica and Trinidad and Tobago have become Republics, meaning the King is no longer their head of state but they have a president.

As of May 6th, King Charles, and Queen Camilla, will be the Royal heads of a country that benefitted from the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the head of state of former colonies: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines. Slavery and British colonization wreaked havoc on these nations and the period in history has left many with a bitter pill to swallow, including those in the Caribbean and its Diasporas.

Reactions

Caribbean nationals at home and in the United Kingdom have varying opinions about the Royal family and the relevance of the monarchy as sovereign of each Commonwealth realm state.

“The coronation is a continuation of an apolitical office of our government above the political fray of our opposing political parties,” expressed Bancroft Williams, a Jamaican Public Intellectual who currently lives on the island told Caribbean Today.

“Yes, I will celebrate,” added Williams “It’s a long history of stability that we really respect, and the need to ensure that our country has that political stability and respect of the office in the continuation of our changing political parties. The office is a to be a cause célèbre around the globe, the upcoming coronation of King Charles holds no particular significance to me,” she told CT. “It is especially off-putting against the backdrop of the ongoing treatment being meted out to Prince Harry and his family, since stepping away from the Firm and exposed long hidden ills.”

“As a journalist, I will definitely watch the proceedings for information and academic/ historical interest, but I will not be celebrating Charles nor his consort’s ascension to the throne,” added Ellington. “I cannot, in good conscience support an institution or system that enslaved my ancestors, pillaged and plundered our wealth and resources, yet continues to refuse to acknowledge and apologize for the wrongs perpetuated against us.”

Pauline Russell, a British-born Monitoring & Evaluation Analyst of Jamaican heritage shared similar sentiments.

“As a person of color and being British I understand the impact of colonialism and that I will never truly be accepted as one of them,” Russell told CT. “Prior to Prince Harry’s marriage to Meghan Markle, I would have