Barbados "No Longer Serving the British Queen"... Transition to Republic by Next Year

"The Head of State of Barbados Should Be a Barbadian"
Changing the Head of State on the 55th Independence Anniversary Next Year
Likely to Remain in the Commonwealth

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Barbados has declared that starting next year, it will no longer recognize Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom as its head of state. The country plans to shed its colonial past and transition from its current constitutional monarchy to a republic.

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

According to the BBC on the 16th (local time), Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, stated, "The time has come to leave the colonial era behind," adding, "The head of state of Barbados must be a Barbadian." Prime Minister Mottley said, "We will complete the process of changing the head of state by November next year, which marks the 55th anniversary of our independence from the UK," and described this as "the ultimate expression of confidence in who we are and what we can achieve."

The speech announcing the transition to a republic was written by Prime Minister Mottley and read aloud by Sandra Mason, Governor-General of Barbados. The Governor-General is appointed by the British Queen upon the recommendation of Barbados and has served as the Queen's representative at parliamentary events and other official functions.

Barbados, an island nation northeast of Venezuela, was occupied by the United Kingdom in 1625 and used as a hub for the slave trade. It remained under British rule until it gained independence on November 30, 1966. Even after independence, Barbados maintained a constitutional monarchy, with the British Queen serving as the legal and de facto head of state, although she did not exercise actual governance.

The British royal family responded to the Barbados government’s announcement by stating, "This is a matter for the government and people of Barbados to decide." A royal source noted that Barbados's decision was not sudden but had been discussed multiple times over a long period.

Indeed, calls for Barbados to abandon the monarchy have been raised several times in the past. According to the BBC, such discussions occurred even during the constitutional review process in 1998.

The UK Foreign Office stated, "Barbados and the United Kingdom share history, culture, and language," and added, "We will continue to maintain our relationship through ongoing partnership."

Foreign media predict that even if Barbados no longer recognizes the British Queen as its head of state, it will remain a member of the Commonwealth.

Several countries in the Caribbean have already left the monarchy. Guyana announced its transition to a republic four years after independence in 1970. Trinidad and Tobago became a republic in 1976, and Dominica followed in 1978. These countries remained members of the Commonwealth despite no longer recognizing the British Queen as their head of state.