Prince William and Kate spent time with locals during their visit to Hopkins in Belize (Reuters)
Britain’s Prince William and his wife Kate danced with Belizean villagers and helped make traditional chocolate on Sunday as the second day of their Caribbean tour went smoothly after an awkward start to the week-long journey.
The arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to the Central American country coincides with the celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s 70th year on the throne and comes at a time when British behavior in the Caribbean is increasingly under scrutiny .
Before the couple left Britain, a local protest prompted organizers to change their planned Sunday itinerary in Belize, known as British Honduras until 1973.
Their visit takes place nearly four months after Barbados voted to become a republic, severing ties with the British monarchy but remaining part of the British-led Commonwealth of Nations.
An event for the Duke and Duchess scheduled for Sunday morning in the southern village of Indian Creek was canceled after several dozen residents staged a protest Friday.
Villagers said they were angry that the couple’s helicopter was allowed to land on a football field without prior consultation. The locals also have a land dispute with a conservation group supported by the royal family.
On Sunday, several dozen Indian Creek villagers counter-protested, apologizing for the earlier incident and holding up signs reading “I want your Prince and Princess back” and “Welcome Duke and Duchess of Cambridge”.
By this time, the royal couple was on their new itinerary, starting the Che’il Mayan Chocolate tour nearby. William and Kate both grind cocoa seeds on the ka’ah, a traditional stone tool used by both Q’eqchi’ and Mopan Maya.
Afterwards, the Queen’s grandson and his wife went to the village of Hopkins, a traditional Garifuna community. The Garifuna are descendants of Africans and indigenous Kalinagos who traveled the islands and coast of the region to escape slavery.
Musicians in Hopkins struck up a gunjei rhythm and encouraged Kate to dance with a female group, while William joined a senior community member to play drums.
After trying the local food, the couple helped plow the earth with a shovel to plant a tree. On Monday they will explore the Chiquibul Forest Reserve in central Belize, where they will visit the British armed forces for jungle training.
The Duke and Duchess will remain in Belize until Tuesday morning, then visit Jamaica and the Bahamas.
Debates over colonial-era abuses and plans to seek reparations for slavery in Jamaica could prompt more countries to follow Barbados’ recent move, academics say.
Some Belizeans said they hoped the royal couple would leave the visit with a better understanding of the country. Others said they wouldn’t pay much attention to it.
“We’re not even going to see these people,” said Yamira Novelo, a Belize City resident, “so I feel indifferent except to wonder how this will affect traffic.”
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