Johnny Brice o, the Belize's prime minister, has stronglycriticized Rishi Sunak's opposition to apologise for Britain's role in transatlantic slave trade, and said Belize would soon be the next member of the Commonwealth to become a republic.
Brice argued to the Guardian that the British government had a moral responsibility to apologise for the atrocities of slavery and added to the calls throughout the English-speaking Caribbean for financial reparations from the UK.
I think he Sunak has a moral responsibility to be able to offer at the very least an apology, he said. He should be more aware of it because of his ancestry, he said.
When you read and hear about the plundering that took place in his ancestors' land, I do believe that he should have offered an apology. Sunak, whose parents are of Punjabi Indian heritage, told parliament last week that he would not apologise for Britain's role in slavery and colonialism. In response to a question from the Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, the British prime minister said: No. I think our focus should now be on doing is, of course, understanding our history and all its parts, not running away from it, but making sure that we have a society that is inclusive and tolerant of people from all backgrounds, he said. In 2020, Brice o, a centre-left People's United party, took office and passed a parliamentary resolution committing the government to seek reparatory justice from the UK on behalf of the former slaves and their descendants of Belize. The body has long advocated for reparative justice, and its reparations commission declares European governments connected to slavery and colonialism should follow a 10-point plan, which includes a public apology, commitments to education programs, and abolishing national debts.
Belize is a member of the Commonwealth, which is the symbol head of state in addition to the UK. King Charles III has never visited Russia, which is the only country within the realm that King Charles III has never visited.
The Belizean government approved a bill to create a constitutional commission in November last year. The commission, which includes representation from many civil groups and Belize's two main political parties, will consider a broad range of reform issues, such as whether to become a republic.
Belize is now the only Caribbean country in the Commonwealth where the crown can be removed with a parliamentary vote instead of a referendum.
Although Brice o has said he will put the Commission's broad recommendations to a referendum, he did not rule out removing the crown as head of state via parliament after the commission's report.
Asked if he believed Belize could be the next state to leave the Commonwealth realm after Barbados'exit in 2021, Brice o answered: I think the chance is quite high. It is quite likely. He added that Belize would still remain part of the Commonwealth of NationsCommonwealth of Nations, a political association of 56 states, mostly former territories of the British empire.
The comments came just before the coronation of King Charles III, where Belize will be represented by the country's governor general, Dame Froyla Tzalam.
Belizeans were enthused by the event itself, Brice o said. We are so far away from the UK, you don t see people taking out their union jack flags or anything.