With only a few months to go until the Jubilee celebrations, the Queen of England is going to be dethroned. No, she’s not passing the crown over to the Prince of Wales just yet. She’s just stepping down from the throne in one British territory—Barbados.
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Independence
As Barbados has completed its process of republican independence, the Queen will be handing over the reins to a President who will be in charge of the newly independent country. The former British colony, which had been partially granted political freedom, became officially independent on 29 September after a vote in Parliament. The decision was approved by the majority, and choosing the candidate was not a difficult task.
First president of Barbados
So, who will be the first-ever President of Barbados? Sandra Mason, a Barbadian magistrate. The 72-year-old woman is as well known to the people of Barbados as Elizabeth II is, since she was the Governor General of the country—the representative of the Queen on the island. After the vote was conducted, Mason declared:
The time has come to put our colonial past completely behind us. Barbadians want a Barbadian head of state.
This is the ultimate statement of confidence in who we are and what we are capable of achieving. Hence, Barbados will take the next logical step toward full sovereignty and become a Republic by the time we celebrate our 55th Anniversary of Independence.
The decision was very much anticipated by the islanders, as it was not the first time that the people asked for independence. The state first applied for it around 1990 and renewed their request in 2015. The initiatives, however, were quickly dismissed because of the country’s complicated political context. This is why 30 November will be a deeply revered date for the inhabitants of the microstate.
