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Within the next few years, Antigua and Barbuda will hold a vote on whether to become a republic and abdicate King Charles III as head of state, according to the Caribbean nation’s prime minister.
The former British colony became independent of the UK in 1981, although it continues to share the British monarch as head of state with 14 other nations in addition to the UK. It is a member of the Commonwealth, an association with 56 members, most of them former British colonies.
King Charles III was recognized as the king of Antigua and Barbuda on Saturday, and prime minister Gaston Browne told ITV News that he intended to organize a vote in the following three years on whether the nation should become a republic.
Adding that it is not intended to “reflect any type of disrespect to the queen,” he stated, “This is a topic that has to be put to a referendum for the people to decide.” There is no antagonism involved or any indication that Antigua & Barbuda and the monarchy are at odds in any way.
In order to become a really sovereign nation, he said, it would be “the last step to complete the circle of independence.”
After the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Catherine, traveled to three Commonwealth nations, Belize, Jamaica, and the Bahamas, as part of a celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years on the throne, concerns were expressed in March regarding the monarchy’s continued presence in the area.
The journey was troubled, but the prime minister of Jamaica assured them that the nation was “moving forward” and would eventually realize its “genuine dream” of being “independent.”
By establishing itself as a republic last year, Barbados cut its final imperial ties to Britain.
The choice by Barbados to do away with the British queen as head of state was the first in nearly three decades. Mauritius, an island nation, did it last in 1992. Barbados has continued to be a member of the Commonwealth, like that nation.
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