Duke and Duchess of Cambridge setting off on Caribbean tour to mark Queen's Platinum Jubilee
March 19, 2022, 12:16 pm

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge setting off on Caribbean tour to mark Queen's Platinum Jubilee

Prince William and Kate Middleton/Facebook page

The BBC reported, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are setting off on a week-long tour of the Caribbean - their first joint overseas trip since the start of the pandemic.

A visit planned for the start of the tour has been cancelled however, after local residents in Belize reportedly voiced opposition. The row is linked to a charity William supports as patron.

As well as Belize, William and Kate will visit Jamaica and the Bahamas.

Their tour is to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee this year.

The visit to the Akte 'il Ha cacao farm in Indian Creek village, in the foothills of the Maya Mountains, has been removed from the couple's schedule.

A protest opposing the trip took place on Friday, according to reports.

Curacao is a tropical Paradise in the Antilles in the Caribbean sea (File photo: Pixabay)

Belize media outlet Channel 7 said there was a claimed dispute between residents of Indian Creek village and Fauna and Flora International (FFI), which has William as patron, over land owned by the conservation organisation.

There were also reported to be concerns about the landing site earmarked for the Cambridges' helicopter, with residents claiming they were not consulted about the location, a local football pitch.

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A Kensington Palace spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that due to sensitive issues involving the community in Indian Creek, the visit has been moved to a different location - further details will be provided in due course."

The Belize government said in a statement: "Indian Creek was one of several sites being considered. Due to issues in the village, the government of Belize activated its contingency planning and another venue has been selected to showcase Maya family entrepreneurship in the cacao industry."

And a spokesman for FFI said the charity would "support the livelihoods, educational opportunities and the customary rights of local people" as part of its project in the area.

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He added.: "We are establishing a dialogue with key stakeholders about the future ownership and management of land and want to work with - and in support of - the indigenous community, respecting traditional Mayan rights."

William and Kate are due to arrive in Belize on Saturday afternoon, local time. Their tour will see them take part in a sailing regatta in the Bahamas and celebrate Jamaica's musical and sporting heritage.

Source: BBC

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”