ST JOHN’S: Barbados has announced its intention to remove Queen Elizabeth II 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.

When asked about the speech, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “This is a matter for the government and people of Barbados.” Queen Elizabeth is head of state of the United Kingdom and 15 other formerly-British ruled countries, where she is represented by the governor-general.

They are: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.

Many Barbadians have called in the past for doing away with the queen’s status — due to its lingering imperialist associations — and several of the island’s leaders have advocated becoming a republic.

The move was greeted with cheers on social media, with some users saying the queen was not needed, as the country’s most famous citizen, singer Rihanna, was more than enough.

“Anyway. Barbados already has a Queen and her name is @rihanna,” quipped Simon Naitram, a lecturer at The University of the West Indies at Cave Hill on the island.

Barbados — which has a population of just under 300,000 — was claimed by the British in 1625. It is sometimes called “Little England” for its loyalty to British customs.

It is typically a popular Caribbean tourist destination and cruise port, but the coronavirus pandemic has devastated the industry, with cruise ships out of operation for months.

The island’s decision comes as the historic role of the British empire comes under renewed scrutiny, as part of a global reckoning on race relations and the colonial past fuelled by mass anti-racism protests in the United States.

A government-appointed commission had concluded back in 1998 that Barbados should become a republic with a non-executive president as head of state to replace the queen — but the recommendation was not acted upon.

Mason cited a warning by the country’s first prime minister, Errol Walton Barrow, who had cautioned against “loitering on colonial premises” — saying: “That warning is as relevant today as it was in 1966.” “Having attained Independence over half a century ago, our country can be in no doubt about its capacity for self-governance,” she said.

Despite her designation, Queen Elizabeth rarely visits Barbados and the ceremonial functions of her office are performed by the governor-general.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2020