>

Has the time come for Caribbean Republics?

More
21 Sep 2020 14:29 #384901 by raisa
By Sir Ronald Sanders

In 1994, shortly after Antigua and Barbuda and Cuba established diplomatic relations, Fidel Castro and Antigua and Barbuda’s prime minister, Lester Bird, had a memorable conversation in Havana.

The conversation is worth recalling in the context of the third announcement by a government of Barbados that by November 2021, it intends that Barbados should be a Republic, shedding monarchical status and Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State.

The conversation between Lester and Fidel, at which I was present as a member of the Antigua and Barbuda delegation, started with the revolutionary Cuban leader asking Lester (now Sir Lester) what big plans he had in mind for Antigua and Barbuda. Lester told Fidel that he was contemplating moving to make Antigua and Barbuda a Republic, relinquishing the monarch as the country’s Head of State.

Fidel’s response stopped Sir Lester and the entire Antigua and Barbuda delegation in our tracks. “Why?”, asked the legendary revolutionary. “Does she interfere with your government?”. Sir Lester explained that she did not and that, in a real sense, while Antigua and Barbuda like many other Caribbean countries was one of the Queen’s realms, her role in the government of the country was performed by a local representative and, apart from assenting to legislation which could not be withheld, was only ceremonial, having no executive authority.

“In which case”, Fidel responded, “you might consider remaining as you are. The Queen doesn’t interfere with your government and she provides to foreign investors and others a level of confidence in the constitutional arrangements of your state”.

The surprising conversation did not go much beyond that. It was staggering to the Antigua and Barbuda delegation, but it demonstrated the practical sense of Fidel Castro, which might account, in part, for the survival of Cuba despite the punishing embargo by the United States.

That 1994 conversation between Fidel and Sir Lester took place at least nine years before Owen Arthur, as prime minister of Barbados, first proposed Republican status for Barbados in 2003; eighteen years before Jamaican prime minister, Portia Simpson suggested it in 2012; twenty-one years prior to prime minister Freundel Stuart echoed the proposition in 2015 for Barbados; twenty-two years before Andrew Holness as prime minister repeated it in 2016 for Jamaica; and twenty-six years before the latest announcement by the Barbados government of prime minister Mia Mottley on September 15.

So far, none of the countries in which this proposal has been made, has gone through with it.

While the Throne Speech, in which the most recent Barbados announcement was made, referenced Barbados’ first prime minister, Errol Barrow, cautioning against “loitering on colonial premises”, there would be many who would draw a distinction between seeking independence from the colonial authority of the British (which was the context of Barrow’s remarks) and retaining Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State.

Both Owen Arthur and Freundel Stuart might have retreated from the idea not because they did not believe it to be right, but because within the Barbados society, including the business community, a great value is placed on the Queen as a symbol, if nothing else, of stability and maybe even of unity above the fray of politics.

This is probably true, too, in the case of The Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, and the five other independent countries of the Eastern Caribbean where the Queen is still head of state.

In the event, the present government of Barbados has the greatest chance of success in achieving the objective of becoming a Republic by next year. Unlike the remaining independent countries of the Caribbean of which the Queen is head of state, the Barbados constitution allows for this significant change in constitutional status by “votes of not less than two-thirds of all the members of the House”. No referendum of the electorate is required. Given that the present Mottley government controls twenty-nine of the thirty seats in the House of Assembly, achieving the vote should be easy.

The one obstacle would be how intense, if at all, will be resistance by elements of the Barbados society and the business community against the idea, and how much it threatens to divide the country. This was a matter that clearly influenced both Arthur and Stuart, during their premierships, not to press ahead with the idea.

Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Jamaica and the other six independent Caribbean countries require not only a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives, but also a majority vote by the electorate in a referendum.

Winning referenda in the Caribbean has proven to be as difficult as pushing a boulder up a mountain. In 2009, a referendum in St Vincent and the Grenadines rejected the proposal to oust the monarchy and substitute it with a republic. And, several referenda have failed in other Caribbean countries to alter the Constitution to allow the Privy Council to be replaced by the Caribbean Court of Justice, signifying a reluctance by the majority of the electorate for radical change.

While becoming a Republic is regarded by Caribbean intellectuals as “rounding the circle of independence”, the argument is not as much about the head of state not being a white woman living in a distant former colonial power; it is more about confidence in good governance when institutions perceived as beneficial are changed.

That argument can only be won by political parties in every Caribbean country, demonstrating that they will maintain the rule of law, civil and political rights, and democratic principles, including non-discrimination particularly in race and religion.

However much ruling political parties might wish to join the Barbados government in pursuing republican status, “the matter is really in the hands of the Caribbean people” as the Queen said in 2012 when Portia Simpson declared: “I love the Queen, she is a beautiful lady, and apart from being a beautiful lady she is a wise lady and a wonderful lady. But I think time come”. (Caribbean News Global)

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
21 Sep 2020 14:38 #384902 by ketchim
Just Look at Guyana : Declared Republic status in 1970

50 years later : Zero gain ~

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
21 Sep 2020 14:41 #384903 by ketchim
Barbados will lose the status of being "Little England"

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
21 Sep 2020 17:50 #384907 by chairman
Their players won't be able to play for England

Always tell someone how you feel because opportunities are lost in the blink of an eye but regret can last a lifetime.
cricketwindies.com/forum/

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
22 Sep 2020 09:52 - 22 Sep 2020 09:54 #384909 by ketchim
India's IPL is a Trini ting ?

Trinidad and Tobago is a Republic ~

on August 1st, 1976. The event is celebrated as a public holiday on September 24th

because they are bacchanalist .......never mind ....this is the date when the first Parliament met

under the new Republican Constitution.
Last edit: 22 Sep 2020 09:54 by ketchim.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
22 Sep 2020 09:59 - 22 Sep 2020 10:06 #384910 by ketchim
All the people should read Plato : REPUBLIC !
Last edit: 22 Sep 2020 10:06 by ketchim.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
30 Nov 2021 12:17 - 30 Nov 2021 12:20 #394659 by ketchim
Invalid consumer key/secret in configuration

www.ndtv.com/world-news/worlds-newest-re...ational-hero-2630591

World's Newest Republic, Barbados, Names Rihanna "National Hero"
Last edit: 30 Nov 2021 12:20 by ketchim.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Time to create page: 0.194 seconds
AbrahamBREAKING: The Portland Trail Blazers are trading guard Jrue Holiday to the Boston Celtics, sources tell ESPN.(01.10.2023, 19:26)(19:26)0
AbrahamI keep looking at this ODI World Cup and thanking God I don't have to watch West Indies take licks, win two games (at most) and come back home in disgrace.(30.09.2023, 18:17)(18:17)0
ketchimGuyana COUNTY cricket Live!(30.09.2023, 12:47)(12:47)0
AbrahamIndia fans, do you want Ravichandran Ashwin in the World Cup squad?(26.09.2023, 16:55)(16:55)0
AbrahamRussian drone strikes on Odesa region(26.09.2023, 16:50)(16:50)0
AbrahamSouth Korea showcases missiles, drones and tanks in rare military parade(26.09.2023, 06:33)(06:33)0
AbrahamPresident Dr Kishore Shallow congratulates Guyana Amazon Warriors on being CPL Champions(25.09.2023, 20:27)(20:27)0
AbrahamFirst thing first big congrats to the Guyana Amazon Warriors and their long suffering fans.

Second thing second only 4 out of 34 CPL games went into the final over this year.

I'm not here to be a cheerleader I'm here to talk the inconvenient truth.

Quality was LOW
(25.09.2023, 20:16)(20:16)0
Yareli62 for 6(24.09.2023, 20:07)(20:07)0
ketchimGoooo Amazon !(24.09.2023, 14:29)(14:29)0
ketchimAmazon Warriors vs Knight Riders !(24.09.2023, 14:22)(14:22)0
ketchimCPL FINAL 7 pm, tonight !(24.09.2023, 14:22)(14:22)0
YareliPresident Irfaan Ali and Guyana Amazon Warriors captain Imran Tahir joined other worshippers at Friday prayers at the Queenstown Masjid.

The Warriors are down to play defending champions Jamaica Tallawahs in Qualifier Two on Friday night from 19:00h at the National Stadium, Providence.

The winner will face four-time champions Trinbago Knight Riders in Sunday's final at the same venue, from 19:00h.

(Photo: Shaz Ally)
(22.09.2023, 20:16)(20:16)0
YareliGaw 71 for 2 after 10 overs(22.09.2023, 19:51)(19:51)0
AbrahamSri Lanka selectors are scheduled to announce the World cup squad today. Few important questions to be answered! The injury concerns of Chameera and Hasaranga? The batting make up and the big question about Dasun's future ! Skipper or not in the squad or not? Should know the answers shortly.(20.09.2023, 18:19)(18:19)0
YareliFormer Guyana and West Indies all-rounder Narsingh Deonarine turned in a Player-of-the-Match performance to lead West Indies to victory over Australia on the opening day of the Over-40s Cricket Global Cup 2023 in Karachi, Pakistan.

West Indies emerged with an 84-run victory on Tuesday, joining hosts Pakistan, Canada and Hong Kong as winners on the first day of the 45-over tournament.

Batting first, West Indies posted 267-7 from the full allotment of overs and then dismissed Australia for 183 from 35 overs.

In photos, Deonarine receives the Player-of-the-Match award for his 65 and 1-20 and fellow Guyanese Mahendra Nagamootoo plays a shot during his 16-ball 27.

READ MORE: https://newsroom.gy/2023/09/19/deonarine-leads-from-the-front-as-west-indies-o-40-beat-australia/
(19.09.2023, 16:03)(16:03)0
MarisolWhy Guyanese hooked on cricket when baseball is more lucrative?(18.09.2023, 10:52)(10:52)0
ketchimBangladesh beat India by 6 runs...(15.09.2023, 14:55)(14:55)0
ketchimdebutant Matthew Nandu looked good in the WIN(14.09.2023, 13:32)(13:32)0
ketchimAmazon vs Tallawahs 7 p.m. Today!(13.09.2023, 11:42)(11:42)0
WillThousands of people were killed and at least 10,000 were missing in Libya in floods caused by a huge Mediterranean storm that burst dams, swept away buildings and wiped out as much as a quarter of the eastern coastal city of Derna.(12.09.2023, 18:35)(18:35)0
MarisolOk(10.09.2023, 19:26)(19:26)0
MarisolHopefully the men step up(10.09.2023, 19:25)(19:25)0
ketchimTerrible decision to WIN TOSS and BOWL...(10.09.2023, 19:09)(19:09)0
ketchimRoyals win by 8 runs......(10.09.2023, 19:05)(19:05)0
MarisolOutttt(10.09.2023, 18:53)(18:53)0
Marisol666(10.09.2023, 18:52)(18:52)0
Marisol4444(10.09.2023, 18:51)(18:51)0
Marisol21 from 8(10.09.2023, 18:44)(18:44)0
Marisol22 from 9(10.09.2023, 18:44)(18:44)0
MarisolNabi stumped(10.09.2023, 18:42)(18:42)0
MarisolWarriors need 23(10.09.2023, 18:41)(18:41)0
TerrellGuyana 6 straight Ws outta 6 played !(10.09.2023, 14:45)(14:45)0
AudreyTKR taking home the trophy!(10.09.2023, 12:59)(12:59)0
AudreyGo Royals!(10.09.2023, 12:58)(12:58)0
Audreyno one watching CPL? Royals beating up GAW(10.09.2023, 12:41)(12:41)0
WillSpain: Soccer Head Faces Sexual Assault Charge over Forced Kiss; Women Players Strike over Pay(09.09.2023, 18:26)(18:26)0
WillCongo Faces “Worst Hunger Catastrophe” as Mineral Extraction Enriches the Few(09.09.2023, 18:25)(18:25)0
Willshout box is for anything(09.09.2023, 18:21)(18:21)0
Willhi(09.09.2023, 18:20)(18:20)0
VillageBelleThe shoutbox still busy......with cricket the main topic. Hello all!!(09.09.2023, 18:03)(18:03)0
MarisolGood morning(08.09.2023, 07:03)(07:03)0
ketchim36 after 4 0vers GO girls !(05.09.2023, 14:48)(14:48)0
ketchimAmazon Women chose to Bat vs Trinbago : after(05.09.2023, 14:47)(14:47)0
ketchim7:00 PM
Guyana Amazon Warriors vs. Trinbago Knight Riders
(05.09.2023, 14:36)(14:36)0
ketchimHappy 52 birthday to Guyana Amazon Warrior COACH, Lance Kluesner !(04.09.2023, 13:19)(13:19)0
ketchimLabour Day holiday in Canada !(04.09.2023, 11:05)(11:05)0
ketchimHeath Streak dead at 49 R.I.P great fast bowler(03.09.2023, 14:51)(14:51)0
Karleewin(02.09.2023, 16:42)(16:42)0
Karleewith a 98 run gives super NRR(02.09.2023, 16:41)(16:41)0
Bridget
Go to top