Barbados to remove Queen as Head of State @ midnight
At midnight, Barbados will become a Republic after Dame Sandra P. Mason is sworn in as President, as the country forges ahead into the future of greater self-determination and away from its colonial past.
In an interview with the BBC, Prime Minister Mia A. Motley described the new path as a chance for the island to assert itself and show greater self-confidence. "It was time," she said, "to fully leave our colonial past behind."
Mottley said dismantling aspects of a colonial legacy were not "antagonistic or adversarial," while speaking of her respect for the Queen but said the time had come for a new kind of relationship with the United Kingdom where the two countries would remain close partners.
Buckingham Palace says it respects decision
Buckingham Palace says it respects the decision of Barbados, but beneath the public statements emphasising enduring friendships, there will be some unease.
Prince Charles on behalf of the Palace is expected to give a speech at tonight's ceremony as he marks the handover of the country.
He will focus on reaffirming friendships and sharing common goals and values.
The Prince of Wales has flown into Barbados for the handover ceremony in National Heroes Square as a representative of the Queen but also in his role as her successor as head of the Commonwealth - Barbados will remain in the Commonwealth.
Prince Charles will see a final salute to the British monarchy and watch as the Queen's standard is lowered.
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19 Responses to “Barbados to remove Queen as Head of State @ midnight”
Barbados under the UK has had a brutal history of slavery; it supposedly had the most brutal system in the region with one of the shortest life expectancy, ie, 30< years. Other regional countries, as well as states in the southern US, adopted the 1661 Barbados Slave Code, an act for the better ordering and governing of negroes. Under the 1833 Abolition Act, Slave owners were compensated yet neither slaves nor their descendants have received a farthing in reparations. Additionally, went into independence in 1966 without a robust development pact.
Moreover, Barbados is small resource-poor country, depending heavily on tourism. The region needs regional integration so that the limited region resources can benefit the most people.