Though its leaders no longer swear loyalty to the crown, Barbados remains part of the Commonwealth of Nations, a voluntary organization of 54 former British colonies that the queen has sought to uphold throughout her reign. Mottley honored the singer as a “national hero,” citing her “extraordinary commitment to the land of her birth,” reports Livia Albeck-Ripka for the New York Times . Mottley presided over Tuesday’s watershed ceremony, which counted many famous Barbadians-including international pop star Rihanna-among its attendees. Pride of Nationhood: Declaration of the Republic and Installation of the President of Barbados - Mia Amor Mottley November 30, 2021īarbados’ Parliament chose Mason to take on the newly created role of president last month.
“Barbadians want a Barbadian head of state.” “The time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind,” wrote Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley in a speech prepared for Mason.
The country’s leaders first revealed their plan to become a republic in September 2020. “May she weather all storms and land our country and citizens safely on the horizons and shores which are ahead of us.” “Vessel Republic Barbados has set sail on her maiden voyage,” said Mason following the ceremony, per BBC News. Sandra Mason, who previously served as Barbados’ royally appointed governor-general, was sworn in as the republic’s new president. By removing the queen from her position, the democratic nation of 300,000 people has finally cast off one of the last institutionalized vestiges of British colonialism, officially becoming the world’s newest republic.īarbadian soldiers fired a 21-gun salute as the country’s national anthem played during a crowded ceremony at Heroes Square in the capital of Bridgetown. The former Caribbean colony declared its independence from the United Kingdom on November 30, 1966, but retained Elizabeth II as its ceremonial head of state until this week. Crowds cheered as fireworks illuminated the sky in Bridgetown, Barbados, early Tuesday, marking the formal end of the island nation’s nearly 400-year relationship with the British monarchy.
0 kommentar(er)
