Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s security ‘costs poverty-stricken Colombia £1.5 million’
Protecting Meghan Markle and Prince Harry cost poverty-stricken Colombia £1.5 million, local reports said.
This cost £375,000 a day and required 3,000 police and soldiers, helicopters, sniffer dogs, bomb disposal units and a security guard armed with a bulletproof shield in case of a sniper attack.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were invited to the South American country by Vice President Francia Marquez.
However, Colombia is currently facing enormous socioeconomic problems.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s security ‘costs poverty-stricken Colombia £1.5 million’Le Studio PhotographyA third of the population lives below the poverty line and the cost of providing security for the Sussexes during their tour angered the security chief of the Cali city council, Andres Escobar, where the couple ended their tour on Sunday.
Escobar complained about security costs on social media.
He said: “Billions that could have been used to improve the supply of children’s canteens, pay salaries for community mothers, provide start-up capital for African communities or rebuild sports facilities that are practically in ruins.”
The conservative politician also accused Marquez of “wasting public money on her vanity,” adding that “taxes were spent on rich white people for photo ops and social media.”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry visited Colombia at the invitation of the Vice President
Le Studio Photography
Marquez has been accused in the past of “using helicopters like taxis,” although she insists this is for protective purposes.
Escobar told The Mail: “The country has paid almost two million US dollars for the security of this trip and there are many, many Colombians who are starving and lacking basic necessities.”
“They invested this money because the vice president wanted to meet two high-ranking public figures and brush aside the criticism and problems we have here because of a corrupt government.”
“We are in an economic crisis and eight billion pesos were spent on Harry and Meghan’s visit, Colombian military planes and helicopters were used and the money could have been better spent.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry received positive feedback on their tour
Courtesy of the Office of the Vice President
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry greet the public in Colombia
Courtesy of the Office of the Vice President
“Before the current government came to power, they campaigned on saving money and not wasting it, but during this visit they have achieved exactly the opposite.”
Escobar added: “The vice president asked her here because she saw her on Netflix, can you believe that? How ridiculous, I can’t believe she said that. This country could have used the money to invest in our own infrastructure, we are doing badly and the money is being wasted on this.”
Due to the massive security measures, Meghan and Harry did not take part in any royal tours where they met people on the street.
This was because each venue was surrounded by police, with officers driving in and out at high speed in a convoy of 14 vehicles.
