Several countries are considering leaving the British Commonwealth of Nations, known as the Commonwealth, due to the United Kingdom’s reluctance to take responsibility for the atrocities committed during its colonial period, refusing to keep the new king in the head of state. .

Various organizations from twelve countries signed a letter this week addressed to King Carlos III, whose coronation will take place this Saturday, May 6, so that he “recognizes the terrible impacts and legacy of genocide and the colonization of indigenous and enslaved peoples”. .

The letter was signed by citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

These nations are calling on the UK to issue a formal apology and begin a process to review reparations, which would include the return of the many indigenous cultural artefacts taken from their countries and which fill UK museums.

However, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has repeatedly refused to do more than acknowledge ‘our country’s past’ and try to ‘build a society without discrimination’ as he answered Parliament’s question. an opposition MP.

Belize threatens to become a republic

This lack of response does not please Belize, one of the Commonwealth countries that King Carlos III has never visited, and whose Prime Minister, Johnny Briceño, has threatened to leave the group.

Speaking to the British newspaper GuardianBriceño said on Thursday that Sunak has “a moral responsibility” for the role of the United Kingdom in the slave trade across the Atlantic Ocean, in particular because of his ancestry, since his family is from India.

“When you read and hear about the looting that took place in the land of their ancestors, I think it seems that (Sunak) should have apologized” on behalf of his country, assured the Belizean, threatening to become soon a republic. . .

Jamaica could also soon join the list of countries that have chosen to have a head of state other than the British monarch — Barbados was the last to become a republic in 2021, in a ceremony attended by Charles III itself –.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has promised to hold a referendum to determine whether his people want Charles III to remain head of state.

There are 14 states in which the British monarch is the representative head of state, although the Commonwealth is also a political association of 56 countries. Although many of these nations hope to become republics, most of them do not plan to leave the community politically, following a process similar to that led by Barbados.