Barbados News
Three times the charm; Barbados scheduled to become a republic by 2021
BY LA SHAWNA GRIFFITH
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the administration of affairs is open to all of its citizens.
It is a word that has been touted by both the Barbados Labour Party and the Democratic Labour Party for the past two decades, and while it showed the country’s determination to finally remove the shackles of its colonial past, it has failed to come to pass each time.
There are different forms of republics. A democratic republic which is simply defined as a Government operating on principles adopted from a republic, and a democracy, rather than being a cross of the two separate systems. Democratic republics may function on principles shared by both republics and democracies.
A parliamentary republic is simply defined as a republic that operates under a parliamentary system of government, where the executive branch derives the legitimacy from and is accountable to the legislature.
On September 15th, 2020, in her Throne, Dame Sandra Mason signaled that the country would become a Republic by November 30th, 2021.
“Having attained independence over a 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. 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,” (Barbados Advocate)
In a response, Buckingham Palace stated that, “Barbados becoming a republic was not out of the blue to the Royal Family and has been mooted and publicly talked about many times.” (ibtimes.com)
The statement from Buckingham Palace is true. The late Prime Minister Owen Arthur had proposed back in 2004, that Barbados would become a republic, and that he would have a referendum in 2005. However, due to concerns from the Electoral and Boundaries Commission, this mandate was shelved.
In 2015, eleven years after the initial declaration by the late Prime Minister Owen Arthur, Former Prime Minister Freundel Stuart stated Barbados would become a republic very soon. But once again this mandate never came to pass.
However, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley is restoring faith in the Barbadian people that she will finally complete the job started by the late Prime Minister Owen Arthur whose funeral was less than two months ago. She said the time has come for Barbados to become a republic and inspire young Barbadians to become the head of state.
“The time is right. I believe I have a duty to young Barbadians so that they can grow up and believe they can aspire to be the head of state of their country. I think that is the most natural aspiration for these countries that do not have a monarchy, and we have been talking about it for over twenty years. We believe the time is right to bring together those things so we can complete the vision of independence.” (BBC, September 17th, 2020)
Since the Throne Speech on September 15th, Prime Minister Mottley has yet to state if the country will be heading towards a parliamentary or democratic republic. She has shared on a popular local radio (Down To Brass Tax) that she is not interested in becoming the President of Barbados, and would intend to remain the Prime Minister of Barbados. One must note if Barbados does become a republic they can still be a part of the Commonwealth of Nations as currently 31 of the 54 members of states in the commonwealth are republics.
The question has been posed in various mediums if one year is enough time to ensure that all of the necessary changes to republicanism could be properly enforced, with every citizen understanding the significance of such a historical and momentous occasion. Only time will tell.