Barbados proclaims republic and no longer recognizes Elizabeth II as head of state

Historic Center of Bridgetown and its Garrison in the Fort Charles Area (Barbados) Government of Barbados

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

Barbados officially proclaimed itself a republic on Tuesday, November 30.

Suddenly the country no longer recognizes Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State.

Advertising

Read more

 Already independent from the United Kingdom since 1966, Barbados celebrated, Monday, November 29 at midnight, its transition from monarchy to republican rule after some four centuries of subjection to British sovereigns.

The island known for its paradisiacal beaches, its rum and for being the birthplace of the world superstar Rihanna is now head of state another woman, Sandra Mason, until then Governor General of the country, after her election in October. 2021 by indirect universal suffrage.

In the presence of Prince Charles and Rihanna

Ms Mason was sworn in in the capital, Bridgetown, in an official ceremony also marked by the replacement of the Queen's Standard with the Presidential Flag.

" 

" said the new president as she was sworn in at midnight on November 29.

This ceremony, in the presence of Prince Charles, son of Elizabeth II, and Rihanna, was not open to the public, however, but the curfew due to the pandemic has been suspended so that residents can enjoy the festivities, including projections and fireworks across the island.

The legacy of centuries of slavery

Questions of British influence and racism were instrumental in Barbados' decision to become a republic, with the island still marked by the legacy of centuries of slavery.

For some activists, like Firhaana Bulbulia, founder of the Muslim Association of Barbados, British colonization and slavery are thus directly responsible for inequalities on the island.

But some residents point to the existence of more urgent problems, including the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has only underscored the country's dependence on tourism, especially from the United Kingdom.

Unemployment reaches almost 16%

Before the virus emerged, the crystal-clear island was visited by more than a million people every year.

The calm of the usually busy streets of Bridgetown, the paltry number of visitors and a moribund nightlife today testify to the difficulties of this pearl of the Lesser Antilles, which has about 287,000 inhabitants.

Unemployment is nearly 16%, up 9% from previous years, despite increased government borrowing to finance public sector works and create jobs.

(

)

►Also read

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

• Barbados

• Commonwealth