Barbados to remove Queen Elizabeth as head of state and become republic
- Move comes as Caribbean island nation seeks to move fully beyond its colonial past, more than half a century after attaining independence from Britain
- Many Barbadians have called for doing away with queen’s status due to its lingering imperialist associations
Barbados has announced its intention to remove Queen Elizabeth as head of state and become a republic by November next year, as the Caribbean island nation seeks to move fully beyond its colonial past.
The decision was formalised in the so-called Throne Speech, delivered on behalf of Prime Minister Mia Mottley by the island’s Governor-General Sandra Mason to mark the state opening of parliament on Tuesday.
More than half a century after attaining independence from Britain, “the time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind”, Mason said.
“Barbadians want a Barbadian Head of State,” she said. “This is the ultimate statement of confidence in who we are and what we are capable of achieving.”
Mason said “Barbados will take the next logical step toward full sovereignty and become a republic by the time we celebrate our 55th Anniversary of Independence” – which will be marked on November 30, 2021.