Gov’t outlines activities leading to republic status
THE BARBADOS government has sought to give citizens the assurance that the island’s identity will not be impacted by the transition to republic status on November 30.
“November 30 will still be known as Independence Day. And Barbados will still be known as Barbados, not the Republic of Barbados, not Barbados, the Republic. We will simply be known as Barbados. The [national] colours will remain the same blue, aquamarine blue, gold and black,” said Minister of Science, Innovation and Smart Technology Kay McConney, as she updated the country on plans to commemorate the 55th anniversary of political independence from Britain.
McConney told reporters that the Mia Mottley government was seeking to “complete a journey” which began when the island gained independence in 1966.
“This completion of the journey leads us to become a state with a Barbadian as our head of state.
And it also brings us to become a state with a Barbadian not only as our head, but where our people have demonstrated the confidence to govern the affairs of our state, still, as part of the British Commonwealth, but without the need for the British monarch to sit as our head.”
She said the president-elect, Dame Sandra Mason, will function in a capacity similar to that of her current role as governor general, “with the main difference being that she will be assuming the role of president as a bona fide Barbadian head of state, not acting on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen”.
Dame Sandra will be inaugurated as president of Barbados during a ceremony to declare Barbados a republic, on Monday, November 29.
The historic event will also see the conferring of the Order of the Freedom of Barbados on both the president and His Royal Highness Prince Charles, who will be in attendance, as well as addresses by them.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and Attorney General Dale Marshall will also take the Oath of Allegiance.
The government said that several commemorative events are scheduled to take place during the week of November 23, with McConney noting that due to the coronavirus pandemic, some of these activities would be “safe zone events” with limited public attendance.