Reparations issue was raised with Earl of Wessex by phone – PM

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has revealed that he spoke to the Earl and Countess of Wessex during their one day visit to St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) on Saturday, April 23.

At the time of the Royal visit, Dr Gonsalves was in Venezuela receiving medical attention.

Speaking on NBC Radio on Wednesday, April 27 the prime minister said he spoke to the Royal Couple via telephone from Venezuela.

“I spoke to them for maybe ten minutes or a little more,” Gonsalves told listeners on Wednesday morning.

He said he raised the issue of reparations with Prince Edward and his wife Sophie on Saturday.

“I explicitly said to him that I noticed that there was a demonstration in relation to reparations,” Dr Gonsalves revealed.

He said he told the Earl to take the matter of reparations seriously, “ and that he must raise it with his brother, the Prince of Wales, and with anybody in the British government with whom he comes in contact.”

During the visit last Saturday, a number of persons staged placard protests along their route and called for reparations.

“I was not displeased to see Vincentians put up placards,” Gonsalves commented.

According to the prime minister, Buckingham Palace had made inquiries about security ahead of last Saturday’s visit.

Concerning the protest, the prime minister said, “I am very pleased that there was no disorder.”

Last week’s visit to SVG formed part of a tour of the region to mark Queen Elizabeth 11’s platinum jubilee.