Barbados to remove Queen as head of state and become republic

Buckingham Palace has said Barbados’s intention to remove the Queen as head of state and become a republic is a “matter for the government and people” of the Commonwealth country.

Governor-General Dame Sandra Mason set out the plan in the “Throne Speech”, which traditionally marks the state opening of the Barbados parliament.

Barbados intends to become a republic by November next year.

Dame Sandra referenced a famous comment by her country’s first prime minister Errol Barrow, saying he had cautioned “against loitering on colonial premises”.

She said: “That warning is as relevant today as it was in 1966.”

The Queen has been Barbados’ s head of state since it became independent in 1966, but the issue of becoming a republic has been discussed at national level during the following decades.

Asked to comment on the Commonwealth country’ s plans, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “This is a matter for the government and people of Barbados.”

Dame Sandra, who is the Queen’s official representative in Barbados, said: “Since independence, we Barbadians have sought constantly to improve our systems of law and governance so as to ensure they b est reflect our characteristics and values as a nation.

“Barbados’s first prime minister, The Rt Excellent Errol Walton Bar row, cautioned against loitering on colonial premises. That warning is as relevant today as it was in 1966.”

Members of the royal family, including the Prince of Wales, have enjoyed visits to Barbados over the years.

The speech, written by the prime minister Mia Mottley, set out the Barbados government’s agenda for the second session of the 2018-23 parliament.

The Governor-general said: “Having attained independence over half a century ago, our country can be in no doubt about its capacity for self-governance.

“The time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind. Barbadians want a Barbadian head of state.”

Barbados will mark the milestone on 30 November next year so the nation has 14 months to enact the major constitutional changes, which could usher in an elected presidential-style head of state.

The Cox Commission was established in 1979 to examine the feasibility of introducing a republic, but concluded people wanted the present system to remain.

In 1998, a Barbados constitutional review commission recommended republican status.

Barbados is one of the Queen’s 16 realms – countries where she is head of state.