Fly in the royal bedchamber

Dennie Quill, Columnist

Here I am, a fly on the wall of the royal bedchamber, listening to young Harry reporting to his grandmum on his recent trip to the Caribbean. He had been dispatched to the Caribbean and South America to help commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Grandmum was particularly eager to hear about the Jamaican leg since newly elected Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller had announced that her Government intends to adopt a republican style of government by replacing the monarchy.

Harry described to Granny the anxiety he felt when he learnt, on his arrival, that six persons had been shot to death in the streets of Kingston. But he remarked that everyone seemed so happy and jovial that he quickly realised that multiple killings were no big deal and could be regarded as a normal occurrence in this island paradise.

Ending monarchy; meeting bolt

He assured Grandmum that the separation from the monarchy is not likely to happen in her lifetime. "Exhale, Grandma," he coaxed her. Telling her about the excitement of the locals, the awesome reception that he received everywhere he went, the prince also reminded her that several other Jamaican leaders had, before Mrs Simpson Miller, vowed to replace the monarchy.

As recent as May 2011, then Prime Minister Bruce Golding indicated that he would want the country to march into its 50th anniversary of Independence having severed formal ties from the monarchy.

Harry said meeting Usain Bolt and participating in a fun run was one of the highlights of his visit to Jamaica. The young prince gushed to Granny about his beating the world's fastest human in a short sprint and he wondered whether Bolt could be invited to tea when he gets to London for the summer Olympics, or maybe given a knighthood. Oh, no, Jamaicans, except for the governor general, cannot accept that honour, he reminded himself.

The young prince said he was awed by the rich culture, delectable food, the music and the beauty of the country. He was also struck by the fact that as broke as the country was with a public debt of $18.6 billion hanging around its neck, the Government was able to dig up $3 million for his visit. He described the freshly paved roads and other evidence that the place had been spruced up for this Jubilee visit.

Compensation and the apd

Prince Harry seemed to have paid keen attention to what people were saying. He let Grandmum know that some persons who opposed the monarchy continue to be bitter about the evil slave trade and feel they are entitled to some form of compensation.

Speaking of compensation, the young prince suggested that perhaps Granny could do something about the impending air passenger duty to be imposed by the British government on passengers travelling from the United Kingdom (UK) to the Caribbean.

Prince Harry told Granny that this tax is likely to have a deleterious effect on Caribbean tourism and related businesses. He reminded Granny that in Jamaica, unemployment was running at 13 per cent and that a significant portion of the population was living below the poverty line.

The young prince, who appears to have inherited some of his mother's compassionate nature, pleaded with The Queen: "Have a heart, Granny," he said, "remember that tourism is the largest contributor to the economies of these countries."

At this point I wanted to touch the prince, but then I saw Granny's fly swatter staring up at me.

Dennie Quill is a veteran media practitioner. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.