The Caribbean nation’s Governor-Basic, Sandra Mason, mentioned in a speech on Tuesday that “the time has come to totally depart our colonial previous behind.”
She mentioned the nation will change into a republic as early as November of subsequent yr, when it celebrates its 55th anniversary of independence from the British empire.
The Queen is head of state of the UK and 15 different international locations that had been previously below British rule — together with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Jamaica and several other different island nations within the Caribbean and Indian Ocean.
However many Barbadians have lengthy agitated to take away her standing — and with it, the lingering symbolic presence of imperialism over its governance — and a number of leaders this century have proposed that the nation change into a republic.
“Barbadians need a Barbadian Head of State. That is the final word assertion of confidence in who we’re and what we’re able to reaching,” Mason mentioned, studying a speech written by the nation’s Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, on the state opening of Parliament on Tuesday.
“Therefore, Barbados will take the subsequent logical step towards full sovereignty and change into a Republic by the point we rejoice our 55th Anniversary of Independence.”
A royal supply informed CNN that the choice is a matter for the federal government and folks of Barbados, including that it was not “out of the blue” and had been “mooted and publicly talked” about many occasions.
A number of international locations dropped the Queen as head of state within the years after they gained independence, with Mauritius the final to take action, in 1992.
However Barbados’ transfer to fast-track a course of that had beforehand been proposed as a subject for a public vote may sign a brand new wave of countries contemplating a push towards full self-governance, significantly because the historic function of the British empire comes below renewed scrutiny.
Mason cites a warning by Barbados’ first Prime Minister, Errol Walton Barrow, towards “loitering on colonial premises.”
“That warning is as related right this moment because it was in 1966,” she mentioned. “Having attained Independence over half a century in the past, our nation will be in little doubt about its capability for self-governance.”
Barbados stays a member of the Commonwealth, a union of 54 international locations that had been principally former British territories.
CNN’s Max Foster contributed to this report.
