The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, announced that he will call a referendum in the country within three years for the population to decide if they want to remain united to the British monarchy or proclaim a republic.
“This is not an act of hostility or any difference between Antigua and Barbuda and the monarchy, but it is the final step to complete that circle of independence, to ensure that we are truly a sovereign nation,” Browne said in an interview with the British network. ITV, published this Sunday by the local media.
The island country gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1981 but maintains the British monarch as its head of state.as are other Caribbean nations that are also planning to become republics like Jamaica.
Browne’s statements come a few days after the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the proclamation as the new monarch of Carlos III.
Asked about the deadline for holding the aforementioned plebiscite, the prime minister indicated that “probably within the next three years.”
He also anticipated that, even if the monarchy was eliminated, his country would continue to be a committed member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
(Keep reading: Meghan Markle, wife of Prince Harry, broke the royal mourning protocol).
On the day of Elizabeth II’s death, Browne sent his condolences “to King Charles III and the royal family” and highlighted the role of the monarch during his long reign.
“Queen Elizabeth reigned for seven decades, earning respect and high regard from all corners of the world. Her Majesty’s leadership of the Commonwealth of Nations has been magnificent, joining hands with English-speaking states from every continent and regions,” he said in a statement.
Likewise, He stressed that relations between the United Kingdom and his country during this time have been “mutually respectful and unalterable”.
Several former British colonies in the Caribbean have announced plans to embrace republicanism, an idea that gained momentum after Barbados proclaimed a republic on November 30, 2021, led by a local head of state, Sandra Mason.
EFE
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