Belize likely to become republic, says PM, as he criticises Rishi Sunak
Source: The Guardian
Belize likely to become republic, says PM, as he criticises Rishi Sunak
Exclusive: Johnny Briceño attacks his UK counterpart’s refusal to apologise for atrocities of slavery
Oliver Laughland in Belmopan
@oliverlaughland
Thu 4 May 2023 14.12 BST
The prime minister of Belize, Johnny Briceño, has sharply criticised Rishi Sunak’s refusal to apologise for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade, and said it was “quite likely” Belize would be the next member of the Commonwealth realm to become a republic.
Speaking to the Guardian in the country’s capital, Belmopan, Briceño argued 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,” Briceño said. “He should have a better appreciation of it because of his ancestry.
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Sunak, whose parents are of Punjabi Indian heritage, last week told parliament 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. What 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 right now making sure that we have a society which is inclusive and tolerant of people from all backgrounds.”
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/04/belize-likely-to-become-republic-says-pm-johnny-briceno-as-he-criticises-rishi-sunak
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