Skip to content
Government and Policy

Barbados Becomes The Newest Country In The World

BY Lynnet Okumu · November 30, 2021 03:11 pm

KEY POINTS

The Caribbean Island nation and the former British colony of Barbados have become the world’s newest republic today on Tuesday 30th November 2021.

The Caribbean Island nation and the former British colony of Barbados have become the world’s newest republic today on Tuesday 30th November 2021.

The nation as removed Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state in a spectacular ceremony that began late Monday, breaking its ties with the British royal family.

Several people in Barbados welcomed their country’s move to sever ties with its old imperial rulers citing that the move is not something personal against the queen but rather Barbados’ national pride and governance.

“Republic Barbados has set sail on her maiden voyage,” Dame Sandra Mason, a Barbadian who had served as the island’s governor-general — or queen’s representative and the now first president of the country said, recognizing the “complex, fractured and turbulent world” it would need to navigate.

“Our country must dream big dreams and fight to realize them,” Sandra Mason told those gathered for the ceremony, including Britain’s Prince Charles who was in attendance.

Prince Charles gave a speech stating that the creation of the Republic presents a new chapter to the Barbadians. His mother Queen Elizabeth on the other hand sent the island her good wishes as they begin the journey as a republic.

“From the darkest days of our past, and the appalling atrocity of slavery, which forever stains our history, the people of this island forged their path with extraordinary fortitude,” said Charles.

The island which was claimed by the British and turned into a lucrative colony in the 17th century has a present-day population of about 287,000 comprised mostly of the descendants of people brought over as slaves from Africa to work in the plantations.

The idea of republicanism in Barbados first came up in the late 1970s. In 2008 the island proposed to hold a referendum on the issue, but the date was pushed back.

The decision to remove the queen as head of state was announced in 2020 and now finally Barbados has been added to the list of countries worldwide.

Trending Stories
Related Articles
Explore Soko Directory
Soko Directory Archives