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Barbados is abolishing the monarchy. Here's why other countries should do the same

Barbados is abolishing the monarchy. Here's why other countries should do the same
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Barbados aims to remove the Queen as its constitutional monarch and become a republic by November 2021.

The Caribbean island's governor-general Dame Sandra Mason announced:

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 gained independence from Britain in 1966, but retained the Queen as its head of state. They will join Dominica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago in republic status once the transition is complete.

Here are some of the reasons many think other countris should follow suit.

People think it's a "very wise" time for Barbados to step back from the British monarchy.

They could encourage others to do the same.

Other Commonwealth countries are interested in the news.

Also, Barbados deserves better.

The island has been colonised by the Spanish, the Portuguese and the English, for whom it was a centre of the slave trade until 1807. Not all slaves were emancipated in Barbados until 1833.

Why should Barbados retain formal ties to the colonisers who treated its people this way?

Especially given the entitlement of white British people to this day...

Now is also a great time to disentangle from the UK more generally.

People joked that the state of British politics is Barbados's real reason for cutting ties.

Barbados considered moving towards republican status in 1998 and 2015.

With prime minister Mia Mottley seemingly on board, 2021 could really see the end of the royal family's formal ties to the island.

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