03 December 2021 - Barbados becomes a Republic
Queen congratulates Barbados as it becomes a republic
Caroline Davies (The Guardian, 30/11/2021)
As Barbados removes the Queen as its head of state and becomes a republic, the monarch has sent her congratulations on the nation’s “momentous” day.
Prince Charles arrived on the Caribbean island on Sunday to join the inauguration ceremony of the president-elect, Sandra Mason, who replaces the Queen as head of state overnight as Barbados sheds the vestiges of a colonial system stretching back 400 years.
Barbados becomes republic removing Queen Elizabeth II as head of state
(BBC News, 30/11/2021)
Barbados has become the world's newest republic, officially removing Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state.
In an overnight ceremony in the capital, Bridgetown, Dame Sandra Mason was sworn in as president.
The Prince of Wales and Barbadian singer Rihanna attended the event, which coincided with the country's 55th anniversary of independence.
In ditching monarchy, Barbados proves a role model for the world
J.J. McCullough (The Washington Post, 03/12/2021)
On Monday night, the government of Barbados hosted a grand party to celebrate what was, all things considered, a relatively mild bit of constitutional housekeeping: the country’s transition at midnight from constitutional monarchy to parliamentary republic.
Barbados’s figurehead governor general, Dame Sandra Mason, the symbolic representative of Queen Elizabeth II, was retitled “first president of Barbados.” Elizabeth II — who has been styled “Queen of Barbados” since 1966, when the country became an independent state within the British Commonwealth — was retitled to nothing, sending a congratulatory letter in her capacity as a now-foreign monarch.
Rihanna declared a 'national hero' as Barbados celebrates becoming a republic
Amar Mehta (Sky News, 30/11/2021)
Barbadian singer and businesswoman Rihanna has been declared a national hero by the country's prime minister.
The 33-year-old was awarded the honour by Mia Mottley during an event to celebrate the island nation becoming a republic.
"On behalf of a grateful nation, but an even prouder people, we therefore present to you the designee for national hero for Barbados, ambassador Robyn Rihanna Fenty," the PM said to a jubilant crowd in the capital, Bridgetown.