Antigua Prime Minister Delivers Blunt Message to King Charles During Caribbean Tour

PM calls for slavery reparations and envisions a republican future for Antigua during Charles and Camilla's Caribbean trip.

Before the Caribbean tour began, there were predictions it might run into trouble given Britain's history with the countries, but the trip initially proceeded smoothly. However, as it nears its final leg, King Charles and Queen Camilla's Caribbean tour has taken an unexpected turn. One Commonwealth leader has made his stance on Britain's past and the future of the monarchy explicitly clear, bringing two sensitive issues back into sharp focus as the royal couple continues their visit.

Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister Gaston Browne has demanded that Britain pay reparations for the transatlantic slave trade while also admitting that he would personally like to see his country transition to a republic. Browne made the remarks while hosting Charles and Camilla during their visit to Antigua for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The royal couple attended a church service at St John's Pentecostal House of Restoration on Sunday, where the Prime Minister was also in attendance.

Speaking to ITV News, Browne insisted that Britain must acknowledge the suffering caused by slavery and take responsibility for its historical impact. He said, “I understand the politics in the UK, in which it may be a difficult proposition for him to agree to any form of reparations, but that just does not negate the need for reparations." The PM continued, “If there’s no compensation, there’s likely to be a repeat of those atrocities sometime in the future, and you can see what is happening globally already."

Browne added, “They can’t, on the one hand, benefit from all of the wealth that was generated here in the Caribbean as a result of the atrocities. There has to be some acknowledgement of the wrong, and to recognize, too, that there has to be some form of restitution.” The Antiguan leader also suggested that the money could come from Britain's overseas development budget, maintaining that Caribbean nations were not asking for something Britain could not afford. However, reparations were not the only critical issue Browne raised during the royal visit.

The PM also spoke openly about his personal preference for Antigua and Barbuda to break away from the British monarchy. He opined, "I can say to you, I am a Republican. So if you asked me about my personal view, I would like to see Antigua and Barbuda become a republic.” However, Browne also acknowledged that the final decision would belong to the people. He shared, “I serve the King, and he will continue to benefit from, you know, all of the courtesies and respect as our King.”