From the BBC:
“Barbados becomes a republic
and parts ways with the Queen”
(Prince Charles attends the
Presidential Inauguration Ceremony to mark the birth of a new republic in
Barbados at Heroes Square in Bridgetown)
Barbados has officially removed
Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state and become the world's newest republic.
In an overnight ceremony in the capital, Bridgetown, Dame Sandra Mason was
sworn in as president. The Prince of Wales and Barbadian singer Rihanna
attended the event, which coincided with the country's 55th anniversary of
independence. In a speech, Prince Charles acknowledged the "appalling
atrocity of slavery" the Caribbean island suffered.
The new era for Barbados ends
Britain's centuries of influence, including more than 200 years when the island
was a hub for the transatlantic slave trade. To signify the official change of
power, a final salute was made to the British monarchy and the Royal Standard
flag was lowered and replaced. Speaking as the guest of honour at the event,
Prince Charles reiterated the continuing ties between the two nations despite
the constitutional status change. He described the moment as a new beginning
before being awarded the prestigious Order of Freedom of Barbados by the new
president. The Queen sent the country her "warmest good wishes" for
"happiness, peace and prosperity in the future" and said the nation
holds a "special place" in her heart.
Dame Sandra Mason, 72, the
island's governor-general since 2018, was named as president-elect of the
nation following a vote in parliament last month. She now replaces the Queen as
the head of state. "Vessel Republic Barbados has set sail on her maiden
voyage. May she weather all storms and land our country and citizens safely on
the horizons and shores which are ahead of us," she said after being sworn
in.
Barbados announced its plan to
become a republic last year, but it will remain within the Commonwealth. Formerly
known as the British Commonwealth, the Commonwealth of Nations is a loose
association of former British colonies and current dependencies, along with
some countries that have no historical ties to Britain. Leading national
figures, including Prime Minister Mia Mottley, swore allegiance to Barbados in
front of the new president at the ceremony, which lasted for several hours. She
later announced that pop star Rihanna would be named a national hero by
President Mason. The artist and businesswoman, whose full name is Robyn Rihanna
Fenty, was previously named an ambassador by her home country in 2018. "May
you continue to shine like a diamond and bring honour to your nation," Ms
Mottley said, in reference to one of Rihanna's songs.
Analysis box by Daniela Relph,
royal correspondent In the heat of a Barbados night, the handover ceremony
has combined pomp and ceremony with one big party. It has been a show of
national pride with a sprinkling of this island's most famous names as VIP
guests including the cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers and the singer Rihanna. In
between them both sat the Prince of Wales. It must have been a moment of mixed
emotions for him - he took the final salute and watched the Royal Standard
lowered for the last time as his mother was removed as head of state. He
used his speech to emphasise the pain of slavery and the enduring friendship of
the two nations. The mood music from the royal household has been
positive and pragmatic. They can't stop a constitutional shift but they
can try to ensure positive relationships remain.
The country's prime minister has
described the move to a republic as a "seminal moment" which will see
Barbados fully leave its colonial past behind. It was one of England's
first slave colonies. English settlers first occupied the island in 1627 and,
under British control, it became a sugar plantation economy using enslaved
people brought in from Africa. Slavery was abolished in Barbados in 1834
and the country became fully independent in 1966. In his speech on
Tuesday, Prince Charles spoke of the "appalling atrocity of slavery"
which he said "forever stains our history". Before Barbados,
the last nation to remove the Queen as head of state was Mauritius in 1992. With
a population of about 285,000 people, Barbados is one of the more populous and
prosperous Caribbean islands. Once heavily dependent on sugar exports,
its economy has diversified but has been hit hard by Covid-19 hurting tourism
and rising prices caused by supply chain disruptions.
^ I don’t see much changing for
Barbados, the Commonwealth or the World now that it is a Republic. ^
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