By Jose Sanchez

BELIZE CITY (Reuters), -Britain’s Prince William and Kate are arriving in Belize this Saturday. They will be on a week-long Caribbean tour. However, the trip has been marred by a local protest just before the start. There is growing concern about British Empire colonial ties with the region.

The Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke of Cambridge arrive at the same time as Queen Elizabeth’s 70th birthday. They arrived almost four months after Barbados became a republic.

Queen’s grandson and wife will be spending their first three day in Belize (formerly British Honduras). On the day of their departure, however, a planned event in Belize was cancelled after protests by several villages.

Indian Creek residents, an indigenous Maya community in southern Belize told Reuters they were angry that the royal couple was allowed to land on a local soccer pitch without consultation.

The village is in a land dispute with Fauna & Flora International (FFI), a conservation group supported by the royal family, stirring discontent over colonial-era territorial settlements still contested by indigenous groups.

According to the government of Belize, a visit is planned for a different location. Kensington Palace said that the itinerary would have to be altered due to “sensitive issues” regarding the Indian Creek community. Further details will be available in the future.

FFI released a statement stating that in December 2021 it purchased the Boden Creek land from private owners and promised to conserve the wildlife and support the traditional livelihoods of the local residents.

FFI, however, stated it had purchased the land in order to improve the environment, residents, and Belize overall. It also promised to continue “open, continuous dialog” with the community.

After Belize, duke/duchess will be moving on to Jamaica/the Bahamas. There are meetings and other events with politicians, as well as civic leaders.

Dickie Arbiter was Queen Elizabeth’s press secretary between 1988 and 2000. He described the visit as an act of goodwill that should give the family at least temporary popularity lifts.

Many people today see the monarchy in its current form as an obsolete institution that must be abolished, he stated. He expected little to change, even though Elizabeth was still on the throne.

“The Royal Family has a pragmatic approach,” he stated. It knows that these countries are not realm states and it cannot look at them forever.

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There are likely to be more countries following Barbados’ lead in the debate over oppression during colonial times, which could include reparations for descendants of slaves from Jamaica.

University of the West Indies Carolyn Cooper, University of the West Indies professor, said that the Royal Couple’s Visit would not deter Jamaica from pursuing republic status.

She stated that she believes there was a widespread opposition to the monarchy.

Many Belizeans, who gained independence from Britain in 1981 only, are happy to remain in the family.

Joseline Ramirez is a Cayo manager from western Belize. She said that she believes it was a great opportunity to let them appreciate Belize’s diversity and natural beauty, as well to learn about our cuisine.

Others are, however, less optimistic.

Alan Mckoy of Belize City said that he couldn’t care less about the royal family.

He said, “They’re no worse than us.”