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This former British colony will replace Queen Elizabeth as its head of state and become a republic.
Barbados elected its first president ever to succeed Queen Elizabeth as the head of state. This is a decisive step towards getting rid of the colonial history of the Caribbean islands.
Sandra Mason was elected late on Wednesday by a two-thirds vote of a joint session of the country’s House of Assembly and Senate, a milestone, the government said in a statement, on its “road to republic”.
As a former British colony that gained independence in 1966, this country with a population of less than 300,000 has long maintained contact with the British monarchy. However, in recent years, calls for full sovereignty and local leadership have become increasingly louder.
Mason, 72, will be sworn in on November 30, the 55th anniversary of the country’s independence from Britain. She is a former jurist and has served as the Governor of the island since 2018, and she is also the first woman in the Barbados Court of Appeal.
Prime Minister Mia Motley of Barbados called the presidential election a “groundbreaking moment” in the country’s journey.
“We have just selected a unique and passionate Barbadian woman from among us who will not pretend to be anyone else [and] It reflects the value of who we are,” Mason said after the election.
Wazim Mowla of the Atlantic Council think tank told Reuters that the election could benefit Barbados and abroad.
Mora said that this move makes Barbados, a small developing country, a more legitimate participant in global politics, but it can also be used as a “unification and nationalist move” that may benefit its current domestic leadership.
“Other Caribbean leaders and their citizens may praise this move, but I don’t want others to follow suit,” Mora added. “This initiative will only be considered if it is in the best interests of each country.”
Motley said that the country’s decision to become a republic was not a condemnation of Britain’s past.
“We look forward to continuing our relationship with the British monarch,” she said.
Barbados was claimed by the British in 1625. It is sometimes called “Little England” because of its loyalty to British customs.
It is a popular tourist destination; before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 1 million tourists visited its idyllic beaches and clear waters every year.
The easternmost island in the Caribbean is also the birthplace of the famous superstar singer Rihanna. Rihanna is the Barbados ambassador responsible for promoting education, tourism and investment.
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