Barbados is going to remove Queen Elizabeth as head of State in November
Barbados is planning to remove Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state, according to BBC.
"The time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind," said the Barbados Governor General, Sandra Mason in a statement.
According to the report, the process of Queen Elizabeth's removal would be complete on November 30, 2021 during the celebration of their 55th anniversary of independence from Britain. This change will make Barbados a Republic.
Prime Minister Mia Mottley said Barbadians wanted a Barbadian head of state.
"This is the ultimate statement of confidence in who we are and what we are capable of achieving," she said in a speech.
Reacting to the announcement, Buckingham Palace said that it was a matter for the government and people of Barbados.
Quoting a palace source BBC reported that the idea "was not out of the blue" and "has been mooted and publicly talked about many times."
Governor General Mason while referencing Barbados’ former Prime Minister, Errol Walton Barrow, in relation to “loitering on colonial premises” added his warning to Barbados “is as relevant today as it was in 1966”. She stated “Having attained Independence over half a century ago, our country can be in no doubt about its capacity for self-governance.”
Back in 1998, the Barbados government had appointed a commission that concluded that Barbados become a Republic with a non-executive President as Head of State to replace the Queen, but the recommendation was not acted upon until now. Several other Caribbean leaders have had similar discussions.
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