Barbados to remove queen as head of state
Barbados plans to remove the Queen as its head of state and become a republic. It aims to complete the process in time for its 55th anniversary of independence from Britain, in November 2021.
The move could set the agenda for other Caribbean islands to also part ways with British royalty. The Black Lives Matter movement could add pressure on Prime Ministers from these islands to abandon any possible links to colonial history.
"The time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind," the Caribbean island nation's government said.
"This is the ultimate statement of confidence in who we are and what we are capable of achieving," said Prime Minister Mia Mottley.
Other former British colonies in the Caribbean that have previously distanced itself from the monarchy include Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Domenico, all of which ditched its royal ties in the 70s'. Jamaica has also previously said becoming a republic might be in its future.
The palace is thought to have known about the plans in Barbados - BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond said that the idea "has been mooted and publicly talked about many times".
Barbados is one of the most prosperous Caribbean islands. Once dependant on sugar exports, it now boasts a growing tourism sector.
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