Barbados becoming a republic will probably inspire other countries to do the same, royal watchers believe.
It looks inevitable that other countries will follow Barbados in removing the Queen as head of state to appoint an elected leader and transition to a republic.
Barbados held a colourful celebration as the clock struck midnight on Monday and the island declared itself a parliamentary republic after 396 years of British rule.
The event – which was attended by Prince Charles and VIPs like Barbadian Rihanna – marked the appointment of the ex-British colony’s first elected president, Dame Sandra Mason, while the Queen was removed as head of state.
Barbados is the 18th country to remove the Queen in favour of a native head of state since Her Majesty took the throne in 1952.
The Queen remains head of state in just 15 nations: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, The Bahamas and Tuvalu and the UK.
Barbados’ decision to have its own leader could have a “domino effect” on other former British colonies. For decades Jamaica, where the two main political parties support severing ties, has openly discussed it. Jamaica celebrates its 60th independence next year.
Nicholas Robson
07 Dec, 2021'I don't think people realise how the establishment became established.
It simply stole the land and property off the poor, surrounded themselves with weak minded sycophants for protection, gave themselves titles and have been wielding power ever since.
Tony Benn LEFT WING UK