Barbados Sheds the Crown of Britain
December 3, 2021
On Barbados’ fifty-fifth anniversary of independence from The United Kingdom Barbados has removed Queen Elizabeth II as head of state and has officially become a republic.
Barbados’ modern history began in 1625 when the island was colonized by the kingdom of England. The colony was used primarily to farm sugar cane with slave labor.
During this period thousands from Africa would be brought to Barbados to continue working the highly profitable sugar plantations.
On Tuesday, Sandra Mason, the islands former ruler known as the Governor General, was sworn in as the country’s first president in the same ceremony that removed the queen.
“Our country must dream big dreams and fight to realize them,” Mason said.
In 1834 Queen Victoria abolished slavery across the British Empire.
This freed all slaves in Barbados who made up a majority of the population on the island. Following World War 2 Britain began a policy of decolonization which included Barbados.
In 1961 Barbados was granted autonomy and full independence in 1966.
Barbados became a nation like Canada and Australia which had full sovereignty but still maintained the queen of England as head of state.
Since 1970, the concept of Barbados becoming a republic has been floated around but it wasn’t until 2020 that the decision was made in favor of independence.
Many on Barbados hold a deep respect for the monarchy but saw it as important to move away as national pride and to move away from its past of slavery.
The queen for her part was not in attendance of the ceremony, instead her son, heir to the
throne Prince Charles, took her place.
The Queen gave a statement giving the island her “warmest good wishes.” Charles gave a speech acknowledging Britain’s past in the colonial slave trade.
“From the darkest days of our past and the appalling atrocity of slavery, the people of this island have forged their own path with extraordinary fortitude,” Charles said during the ceremony.
Charles attendance shows the monarchy still has a desire to maintain relations with its former colonies. Barbados for its part will continue to remain in the British commonwealth, an association of other former British colonies.
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