Protests in Belize
William and Kate cancel Coco Farms tour

03/19/2022, 9:28 PM

Prince William and his wife Duchess Kate are traveling on behalf of the British Queen. The couple is visiting countries in Central America and the Caribbean to mark the 70th anniversary of Elizabeth II’s throne. However, their journey doesn’t start as planned.

British Prince William and his wife Duchess Kate had to cancel a trip to the Caribbean early in their trip due to protests. Kensington Palace confirmed that the planned visit to a cocoa plantation in Belize, Central America was “moved to another location” due to “sensitive matters concerning the community at Indian Creek”. According to media reports, the residents of the village demonstrated on Friday against the tour scheduled on Saturday.

Photos showed people with placards that read, among other things: “Prince William, leave our country.” The protest was reportedly directed against the fact that a cocoa farm affiliated with Flora and Fauna International (FFI) was selected for the visit. There is a land dispute between a conservation organization sponsored by William and the local indigenous population.

“You have to understand that this is part of the colonial heritage,” Mayor Mateo Chub told local TV station Channel 5. According to reports, there was also anger over the fact that the Royals’ helicopter landed on the local football field without consulting the community. Needed.

William and Kate are currently visiting several countries in Central America and the Caribbean on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II on her 70th birth anniversary. The planned trip to the cocoa plantation in Belize will be one of the first events of the eight-day trip, which will also take the couple to the Bahamas and Jamaica. The Caribbean state of Barbados broke away from the British crown about four months ago and declared it a republic.