This had not happened for thirty years.

The small island of Barbados, the easternmost of the Lesser Antilles, officially freed itself from the British crown on Tuesday, November 30, following the example of Mauritius in 1992.

Famous for its dream beaches, its tax haven status and the singer Rihanna, the Caribbean microstate has therefore inducted President Sandra Mason, elected by indirect universal suffrage, as Head of State, replacing Queen Elizabeth II.

"I, Sandra Prunella Mason, swear to be faithful and to bear true allegiance to Barbados according to the law, with the help of God," said the new president, taking the oath.

Sign of a divorce without losses or fuss between the United Kingdom and Barbados, Prince Charles, inheriting the crown, was invited to the celebrations of this historic transition to republican rule.

The change will be essentially symbolic for Barbados, independent since 1966, which remains a member of the Commonwealth but will see the Queen's insignia disappear as well as the term "royal" from the name of its institutions. 

Officially head of state, Elizabeth II never interfered in Barbadian political life and her title was above all honorary.

British "first slave society"

However, this change of status is far from trivial for an island where 90% of the population descends from African peoples who have experienced a bloody colonial past.

According to historian Hilary Beckles, chairman of the Commonwealth of Caribbean States (Caricom) Reparations Commission, Barbados served as a laboratory for "Britain's first slave society".

The Barbados Lifetime Slavery Decree of 1636 is indeed one of the earliest examples of slavery legalization. 

Scientific studies have recently demonstrated the appalling living conditions of the men and women forced to work at that time on the island's sugar cane plantations.

According to a study carried out on human remains buried at the "Newton Slave Burial Ground" in Barbados, the life expectancy of slaves barely exceeded 18 years.

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

"The differences in wealth, the ability to own property, even access to bank loans, all of this is linked to the structures created under British power," said the 26-year-old young woman, interviewed by AFP.

Despite difficulties linked to the fall in tourist activity due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Barbados remains a rich country compared to its neighbors.

According to the latest figures from the United Nations, it has one of the highest human development indices in the region, just behind that of Argentina. 

A "Black Lives Matter" effect

Elected in 2018, Prime Minister Mia Mottley largely supported this project of emancipation vis-à-vis the former colonial power.

If this idea had been brewing for many years, if not decades, the arrival of a new generation of Barbadians, influenced by the Black Lives Matter movement, seems to have accelerated the process.

Symbol of this new state of mind, the unbolting of the statue of Admiral Horatio Nelson organized by the Barbadian authorities.

The statue of the British navigator, close to the slavers, had then been removed from Heroes' Square in the capital Bridgetown to join the Barbados Museum.

"There is today a certain consensus in favor of the Republic", explains Matthew Graves, professor of British history at the University of Aix-Marseille, joined by France 24. "And Black Lives Matter has indeed constituted the backdrop of this movement which wants to stand out from colonial history and fully assume the sovereignty of the country. "

Other events have also fueled this reflection on "the decolonization of minds", in particular the accusations of racism launched last year by Prince Harry and his wife Meghan against the royal family.

In 2018, the Windrush scandal also helped to shatter trust between the island and Britain when immigrants of Caribbean origin and their descendants, who arrived legally in the UK, found themselves threatened with deportation.

Commonwealth Continuity

With the birth of this new Caribbean republic, some experts expect to see other kingdoms follow this example to free themselves from the British crown.

Starting with Jamaica, whose constitutional independence is a debate that comes up regularly in the news.

In 1999, Australians also went to the polls to decide whether their country should become a republic with a locally elected president, but the proposal was ultimately not passed.

The issue could also resurface in Canada.

"However, this should not be seen as a catalyst for the beginning of the Commonwealth's collapse," warns Matthew Graves, who recalls that other countries such as Guyana in 1970 or Trinidad and Tobago in 1976 have chosen to withdraw from the Queen of England her position as Head of State while remaining within the Commonwealth.

"We will remain loyal friends and allies, building on the lasting affinities and connections between our peoples and on the special bond of the Commonwealth," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement on Monday.

Created in 1949, the Commonwealth now has 54 member countries and is a major element of British influence in the world, especially since Brexit.

It also gives small states like Barbados a voice on the international stage.

According to Matthew Graves, "Buckingham cares a great deal about the Queen's ceremonial role within the organization and also cares a great deal about her future."

A future assured, according to the researcher, who recalls that in April 2018, the countries of the Commonwealth voted in favor of a succession of Elizabeth II by Prince Charles at the head of the organization.

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