The Caribbean is celebrating Barbados’ renouncement of Queen Elizabeth as head of state and establishment as a Republic. As a Republic, Barbados’ power will now be held by the people and their elected representatives, including a president instead of a monarchy.
Guy Faulconbridge and Brian Ellsworth of Reuters reported Prince Charles traveled to Barbados Sunday to attend the inauguration of President-elect Sandra Mason, which was led by Republican Mia Motley. Prince Charles gave a speech about maintaining a “friendly relationship” with Barbados despite the change in the structure of the relationship. The decision by Bajan legislators to become a Republic stems from an international movement to remove the vestiges and structures of colonialism and imperialism and to have more power and determination over the lives of the people.
Barbados will remain a republic within the Commonwealth, a grouping of 54 countries across Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe.
Read more at Reuters.
This news post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual.
