King visits Guyanan slave rebellion site on Caribbean tour
Hundreds of slaves were killed by colonial leaders in the Demerera rebellion of 1823, with many survivors executed.
King visits Guyanan slave rebellion site on Caribbean tour
The King made a moving visit to the site where a Guyanese slave rebellion was violently suppressed by British authorities, as part of his Caribbean tour.
He went to Independence Park in Georgetown to commemorate the Demerera Slave Rebellion of 1823, which involved an uprising by thousands of enslaved people.
Joined by Guyana’s Culture Minister, Steven Jacobs, he was told how hundreds of slaves were killed by colonial leaders during the rebellion, and how many of those who survived were executed near where the King was standing.
“This ground was used as a public execution site,” it said, “where enslaved persons...were condemned to death and hung.”
The reflective moment was what Buckingham Palace had described as the King “not shying away from the UK’s colonial legacy,” and it said today offered the King a chance to reflect on Guyana’s history of slavery and resistance.
In 2022, Charles said 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
Independence Park, now a sports ground, attracted a crowd of dozens of schoolchildren. The King stopped to speak with many of them, asking about their homework, their holidays and whether they had had a day off school.
Later in the day, a small but noisy group of protesters gathered outside one of the King’s engagements.
Many carried placards reading “no apology will return what was stolen, reparations now” and “justice must not depend on wealth status and connections”.
“This great wealth was built on the backs of slavery,” said protester and Guyanan politician Terrence Campbell.
“I do not want the British public to think that by me saying reparations can take various forms, it means that they do not have responsibility for reparations. They do, because the United Kingdom benefited tremendously from slavery.”
The King will not apologise for the UK’s involvement in the slave trade during the visit, nor will he offer reparations - compensation from those countries that benefited from the slave trade - in line with the UK government’s position.
The tour has seen several demonstrations so far, but none have seriously disrupted the King’s programme.
Royal tours often include cultural exchanges, and the King’s trip to Guyana saw an unusual blend of musical styles.
On the bandstand at Promenade Gardens in Georgetown, the bagpipes of the National Piping Centre could be heard alongside traditional Guyanese drummers in a collaboration of musical styles.
Seven pipers from the National Piping Centre have been touring Guyana over the past week to learn more about Guyanese musical traditions.
As part of his visit on Friday, the King also shared a moment with veterans from Guyana who fought for Britain in the Second World War during an event at the Commonwealth War Graves in the capital, Georgetown.
King Charles met Donald Grant, 99, who will celebrate his 100th birthday next week on November 3.
He also spoke to James Samuel, 100, who is in a wheelchair, with the King hearing how at age 19 he enlisted in the British Guiana Volunteer Force in 1943.
“What a great pleasure it is to see you on this occasion,” the King told him.