WHILE THE PERILOUS STATE of our economy and the hardships being endured by many in our midst would no doubt have dampened the enthusiasm of some regarding the celebration of our Golden Jubilee this week, there can be no doubt that in large measure Barbadians were willing to display their pride in achieving 50 years of Independence.
But after the military marches, fireworks, sumptuous dinners and cocktails, black tie affairs, unveiling of monuments, lustrous singing and spending of millions, what happens now?
The presence in Barbados this week of Britain’s Prince Harry certainly would have added to the sense of thankfulness of some Barbadians.
The passing of the 50th anniversary milestoneis also sure to cause many to question the fortitude of our political leaders given the repeated hints they offered in the lead-up to the celebrations that the nation had tangibly embarked on a path toward republic status.
Truth be told, this is not a subject that academic researchers would ever be able to say arose from some working-class movement, but it could be strongly argued that when our politicians wanted to capitalise on grass-roots political sentiment they repeatedly reverted to this subject.
Additionally, it would not be a stretch to suggest that the way comments were couched and timed, many in our midst concluded justifiably that this shift in political status could have coincided with our 50th anniversary celebrations.
Hear Prime Minister Freundel Stuart in March 2015: “We respect (the Queen) very highly as head of the Commonwealth and accept that she and all of her successors will continue to be at the apex of our political understanding. But, in terms of Barbados’ constitutional status, we have to move from a monarchical system to a republican form of government in the very near future.”
And he added: “We cannot pat ourselves on the shoulder at having gone into independence; having decolonised our politics; we cannot pat ourselves on the shoulders at having decolonised our jurisprudence by delinking from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and explain to anybody why we continue to have a monarchical system. Therefore, the Right Excellent Errol Barrow decolonised the politics; Owen Arthur decolonised the jurisprudence and Freundel Stuartis going to complete the process. ”
One year later, Minister of Industry Donville Inniss, calling for the process to be completed by Independence Day 2016, said: “One of the best things we could do as a country, in this 49th year going towards the 50th year of Independence, is for Barbados to become a republic by November 30, 2016.
“I know it could be a very divisive issue, but for me it is the next logical step in political independence. I hold the view that Barbados must become a republic and we should do it sooner rather than later. They are those who would quarrel and say a statement like that would scare off the British tourists, but show me one tourist that comes to Barbados that asks themselves if we are a Republic or not. . . . “
Alas, the 50th has come and gone withoutso much as a whisper about “completing the process”. Instead the status quo was reinforced by the presence and activities of Prince Harry over the past four days.
So are those who lead serious about this issue or is it just another convenient rallying point for the garnering of grass-roots support? The next big date on our national calendar is general elections, constitutionally due by early 2018. We will wait to see if this Government will hoist “republic status” as another political kite in the coming months.
