King Charles delivered the opening speech at the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in the Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda.
Stating that history is not a concept that those living today can change, King Charles said, "History has shaped us in many ways. We cannot choose or change history. This has been inherited to us in a complex synthesis by our ancestors whom we will never know." he said.
Emphasizing that there are mistakes as well as successes in this legacy, King Charles said: "History can be a difficult phenomenon to grasp when viewed through the prism of time. While time makes events more understandable, it can also distort them. Despite this, the results of history continue to resonate strongly today. History can inspire us, it can terrify us, but it always has something to teach. We cannot change the actions of the people who lived before us, but we can learn from the past."
Stating that the slave trade between the two sides of the Atlantic still casts a shadow over the Caribbean countries and the members of the Commonwealth of Nations, King Charles continued: "This shameful period of history fills my heart with horror and my soul with a deep personal grief. However, history also teaches us that evil does not always have to have the last word. Indeed, character and courage, coming together, can overcome even the most terrible injustices. The determination to end the international slave trade is an example of this. The Royal Navy is also extremely active in this fight." played an important role."
"WE ARE CONSUMING NATURE'S CAPITAL"
King Charles underlined that wars and global developments affect the members of the Commonwealth of Nations as well as the whole world, and pointed out the importance of unity. Referring to the effects of climate change, King Charles said, "Climate change is no longer a frightening possibility, but has turned into a catastrophic reality that directly threatens our way of life. Nature is constantly under attack. Vital natural systems are collapsing." he said. King Charles emphasized that this risk has begun to raise alarm for the British Commonwealth and Caribbean countries and said:
"Ocean countries have had very little impact on climate change, but they are paying the biggest price. If we can mobilize climate finance through the private sector and by using the capacity of the public, we can make investments climate-resilient. Nature itself is a capital that includes our well-being and health. However, we have been living by consuming nature's capital for a long time. We are not satisfied with the sustainable return of the natural resources it offers us."
THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE BRITISH ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS CLOSED TO PAYING COMPENSATION
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, in his article for The Guardian newspaper before CHOGM, stated that England was a country that abolished slavery as well as a country that benefited from it.
Burnham stated that he was open to demands for an apology for Britain's share in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. "I don't think this is the answer" to the compensation demands of countries affected by the slave trade. Burnham, who closed the door with her words, was criticized for "leaving King Charles, who was in contact with Caribbean countries at the time, in a difficult situation".
Buckingham Palace stated that Burnham had previously informed the King about the article and said, "(The King) will not refrain from confronting the most shameful events of the past during this visit. Therefore, you can expect that he will include these issues in his speech with real sincerity and sincere sadness." He made the statement.
The Palace stated that the authority to apologize lies with the government, not the Crown. King Charles, in his speech in the Bahamas on October 27, said, "It is only right that we acknowledge the great suffering and injustices experienced in the past on these islands and beyond." he said. In Guyana, King Charles, who visited the region where the famous Slave Revolt started, drew criticism because the British Royal family invested in and protected the slave trade.
