Barbados parliament gives greenlight to Republican status

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley says much thought has gone into the decision to transition Barbados to a parliamentary republic, even as Opposition Leader, Bishop Joseph Atherley, raised concerns over the legality of the government’s intended move, despite declaring full support for the impending status.

Parliament voted by a 25-0 margin to amend the Constitution (Amendment) Bill to bring the Republic into force by November 30.

Mottley told legislators that her administration was not rushing into republicanism and that talks regarding the transition began more than 2 decades ago.

“There can be no rush, therefore, about this Act. This Act has taken long in coming and if we go back, we agreed that there are aspects that are certainly worthy of consultation and that is the majority of the work that relates to the Constitution, we get that and we are committed to that.”

She described it as a “simple but functional bill” the constitutional amendment would revoke the Barbados Order of 1966 as an Order in Council of Her Majesty while keeping complete the Barbados Constitution.

The amendment makes provision for a Barbadian to be a Head of State, change the oath of allegiance from that to Her Majesty to now the state of Barbados and to ensure continuity in all of the other aspects of the functioning of the state of Barbados through offices, appointments and commissions.

“This has been a conversation that has been taking place since December 1998. The fact that I was part of the cabinet that agreed to the establishment of this Commission explains why I have so much grey hair now because it has been a long journey. It has been a long journey.

“This bill does nothing else but seek to make a Bajan the head of state of Barbados and is as simple as that because that is the lacuna that will take us from one point to another. By also revoking the Order in Council we make the clear statement that we want to be in control of our affairs as a Republic,” she explained.

She dismissed any notion that Barbados would change its name.

She told legislators that together with Atherley they will make a joint nomination for the election of a president of Barbados and a date will then be set for that election.

Barbadians will also be notified as to when the new head of state would be sworn in.

But in his contribution, Atherley raised concerns over the legality of government’s intended move to republican status, despite declaring full support for the move.

The Opposition Leader citing unnamed members of the legal profession, said the manner in which government was proceeding to move Barbados from a realm to a republic with a Barbadian Head of State could be unlawful.

Atherley also opposed the timing to become a republic describing it as “the wrong moment” as Barbados continued to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, questioning whether government had an alternative agenda in ensuring the transition was done speedily.

“Beyond the constitutional and legal arguments, it is a bad moment with COVID. It is not the right moment. We do not know what next year will bring, we may still be faced down with COVID. I would prefer to believe that by the middle of next year this thing would be gone.”

He also said the November 30 date for the transition was inappropriate as it could diminish the work of Errol Barrow, the Father of Independence.

He suggested that July 26, 2022, coinciding with the Day of National Significance that memorializes the 1937 Disturbances, would be most appropriate. – (CMC)