Quinsy Gario, the anti-Zwarte Piet activist, will no longer be involved in discussions about the Sinterklaas festivities in December in Amsterdam.

Gario says the figure of Zwarte Piet (Black Peter), with its black face paint, curly wig and red lips, is racist and has been coordinating the growing protests against its inclusion in the December celebrations.

Last year there was a major row about the character, since when all those involved have been holding discussions on how to alter Zwarte Piet’s appearance to make him more acceptable to everyone.

No longer necessary

Gario has now decided to leave these discussions. He writes on the website roetinheteten.nl that negotiations are no longer necessary.

‘The Amsterdam mayor has received enough information to make his decision on what to do about the Sinterklaas parade,’ he wrote.

Mayor Eberhard van der Laan will decide this week whether to appeal against a recent court ruling that he should reassess the licence he issued for last December’s parade.