To the sound of celebratory gun salutes, fireworks lit up the sky over Barbados on Tuesday as the Caribbean island country declared itself the world's newest republic, lowering Queen Elizabeth's flag and severing colonial-era connections to the British crown.
"Republic Barbados has set sail on her first voyage," Dame Sandra Mason remarked in her inaugural address as the country's first president, acknowledging the country's "complex, fragmented, and volatile reality."
"Our country must dream great ambitions and work to fulfill them," the former governor-general told the audience, which included Prince Charles of the United Kingdom.
The 285,000-strong nation's new age brings an end to Britain's decades of dominance, which included more than 200 years of slavery until 1834.
During the transfer, Charles addressed the issue, acknowledging the impact slavery had on the two countries.
"The people of this island built their way with incredible courage from the darkest days of our past, and the horrific tragedy of slavery, which permanently stains our history," he addressed the throng.
A long-running epidemic curfew was lifted to let Barbadians to enjoy the celebrations, which featured projections around the country and massive fireworks displays timed to commemorate the momentous transfer.
The "Pride of Nationhood" celebration was restricted to the general public, however Rihanna, Barbados' most famous resident, attended with senior officials for the event, which included military parades, a mounted guard of honor, and gun salutes.
One of the first acts of the new republic's prime minister was to proclaim Rhianna a Barbados National Hero: "May you continue to shine like a diamond and bring credit to your country," Prime Minister Mia Mottley addressed the international celebrity.
Barbados gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1966, and is known for its picturesque beaches and love of cricket.
One year after Mottley announced the republic would "completely" put behind its colonial heritage, it chose Mason as its first president in October.
Tourism as a source of income
Some Barbadians claim that there are more serious national concerns than removing the queen, including as the economic hardship brought on by the Covid-19 outbreak, which has highlighted an overreliance on tourism, which is, ironically, reliant on British tourists.
Unemployment has risen to roughly 16%, up from 9% in recent years.
"I know it's something we've been talking about for a long time, but I think it came at a bad moment given our economic condition and the Covid crisis," said Nikita Stuart, the office manager, who is 27 years old.
British colonization and slavery, according to youth activists like Firhaana Bulbulia, founder of the Barbados Muslim Association, are to blame for the island's present inequities.
Bulbulia, 26, explained that "the income difference, the capacity to own property, and even access to bank loans all have a lot to do with systems developed out of being dominated by Britain."
Replacing the queen, for many Barbadians, is just a continuation of how the country has felt for many years.
"I remember how enthusiastic we used to get about the queen, Prince Charles, Princess Diana, and royal weddings in the old days," Anastasia Smith, a 61-year-old nurse, told AFP.
"However, I'm not sure we ever viewed them as our royal family." Everyone nowadays is talking about a republic. Nothing in my life is going to change, I'm not sure. But I believe we are on the right track, and it is a wonderful day for Barbados."
Local activists were aided by global Black Lives Matter movements last year in successfully advocating for the removal of a two-century-old statue of British Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson from National Heroes Square.
Some regard the end of the queen's reign as a necessary step toward financial restitution for the historical effects of bringing slaves from Africa to work on sugar plantations.
Another racial issue involving reported statements about his grandchild tainted Charles' visit to Barbados at the last minute.
An anonymous royal inquired how dark their anticipated first child's complexion would be, according to his youngest son Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, who has a black mother and a white father.
A new book claims Charles is to blame, but his spokeswoman dismisses the notion as "fiction and unworthy of further comment."
AFP
