THE KING HAS COME AND GONE

It is a curious anachronism that a white man who is king of a black nation, who has not been here for 53 years, lands on a fancy jet with flag flying and Cabinet members at the airport to greet him rushes through the town with roads paved and flags flying and children adoring him, and grownups in a thrall, the nation in full display at his feet. That was the scene that could well have been from the 19th century but it was the 21^st century, live and in living colour and that was The Bahamas 27 to 29^th October 2026. On one level the whole scene seemed farcical and out of step with the modern age, but the fact is the country seemed to enjoy being on display and strutting its stuff including the King speaking the Bahamian language: “I reach! Amen!” Translated into standard English it means:  “I have arrived. Thank God.” Then the King grabbed Junkanoo cowbells, he even signed Izzie Johnson’s memorabilia outside the boxing academy, planted a tree for the Bahamas National Trust, and had a chat with the PM about slavery and climate change, offered scholarships through his King’s Trust, then away he went to Guyana on his dedicated jet. You couldn’t have paid for the free publicity. The country shows that it can organize a high profile visit, with no security incidents. This reinforces that it is a safe and happy place to come. We are in the tourism business, so all is well.