President Irfaan Ali calls for the UK to apologise for its role in the transatlantic slave trade

After meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Guyana's president Irfaan Ali has called for the UK to apologise for its role in the transatlantic slave trade.The president and the prime minister met earlier this week to discuss ways the UK could invest in Guyana.Mr Ali told Sky News that all Caribbean nations should call for reparations over 'one of the greatest atrocities in human history'.

He added: "That suffering was not only immense, it was generational. And a lot of wealth was derived from the suffering."The president's words come after Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, faced backlash after visiting the Caribbean.

Speaking about how he believes the UK will soon apologise, President Ali said: "Not a simple apology, it has to have great depth and meaning. But in my view and looking at the last announcements, I think they're heading closer to that position."He continued: "We have established a committee in the region itself that is looking at this because we understand that the region needs to have a common position."

After the Wessex tour, Antigua, Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis stated that they would be distancing themselves from the British monarchy.A few week before, Jamaica and Belize also stated they would be distancing themselves when Prince William and Kate,Duchess of Cambridge, came to visit them.President Ali said: "The colonial past is part of the history now that makes up these countries, all our countries. We can not distance ourselves from history."

He then added that more countries are 'moving to Republic to demonstrate their full independence' and choosing to 'walk on a new path'."There is a recognition that there needs to be a re-set of the relationship in a way that gives more prominence to the Caribbean, Guyana, and the UK. And that is happening, that is a work in progress," President Ali said.