Barbadians might find that a better descriptive of our island state would be a crowned republic.
The term can refer to a nation that is a nominal monarchy but where citizens are to be regarded as holding power over the nation’s affairs rather than a monarch.
The word “republic” simply indicates that the country is administered by majority elected representatives who are expected to use an agreed constitution as a guideline for policymaking. The crown has little or no discretion over administrative and policy issues and principally serves to signify and perhaps honour our historical relationship with other countries in the Commonwealth through the person of a shared sovereign.
In fact, even Great Britain is among fifteen of her former colonies, including Barbados, that are currently termed constitutional monarchies. A growing number of these however, are beginning to feel awkward with their mis-designation as “monarchies”, and prefer to be regarded more accurately as republics . . . hence the birth of the term crowned republic to help us get used to our overdue new tag: “The Republic of Barbados”. Strictly speaking, we have enjoyed being a republic since 1951 when we adopted universal adult suffrage.
All pretentious prerogatives dispensed with, we would start referring to our right honourable prime minister simply as “President” and all “Sirs” and “Dames” in the land – as “Misters” and “Mistresses”.
– LEE FARNUM-BADLEY
