Barbados on track to becoming a republic on November 30, 2016 – will remove Queen Elizabeth as head of state

Barbados has announced it will remove Queen Elizabeth as head of state in time for the 50th anniversary of its independence.

The the island-nation has been contemplating a republican government for some time, and it has set November 30, 2016 as the last day in which citizens of Barbados will pledge allegiance to a non-resident monarch.

“It is a little awkward in the year 2015 to still have to stand up and instead of pledging allegiance to Barbados to be pledging allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen,” Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart was quoted as saying by reporters.

November 30 2016, will mark the 50th anniversary of Barbados’ independence from the United Kingdom. Barbados’ transformation into a republic, will require a constitutional change.

Barbados will join Caribbean neighbor Trininad & Tobago, which became a Republic in 1976.

Queen Elizabeth has been to Barbados 4 times, most recently in 1989 to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the country’s Parliament.

Source: Reuters