At 00.00, the new Republic of Barbados comes into being, 55 years after it gained independence on 30 November 1966. Many years in the making, the final steps were seen through by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley with alacrity during 2021. Former Governor-General since 2018, Dame Sandra Mason is the country’s first President who will serve a non-renewable term of five years. The flag had no Union Jack so stays as is. Barbados joins the other 38 members of the Commonwealth that are also republics, making 39 out of 54 – the majority. A straightforward bill was put through the two houses of the Barbados parliament to effect the change. There was no vote of the people (not required) but there was widespread support for the move – unfortunately, most people in Barbados had to watch the handover ceremonies on TV from home due to Covid restrictions – including from the Barbados diaspora in the UK. The steps were to a) remove the British monarchy from the laws, b) agree a Charter of Aspirations and Values (in progress) and c) adopt a new Constitution, work to start in 2022. The last Caribbean country to become a Republic was Domenica in 1978. Hot on the heels of the changes in the status of Barbados, Jamaica announced that it would undertake a major review of its Constitution starting next year.
Woman for an Australian Republic, Adelaide Ironside, republican poet and artist 1831-1867
Self portrait 1855, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW
