#BTColumn – Bajans in UK have their say on Throne Speech

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today.

by Vincent “Boo” Nurse

The recent announcement by the Barbados Government that the country will, in the near future, sever its constitutional ties with the British Monarchy has come as a surprise to many Barbadians and others in the UK.

The decision has been the subject of much comment in the British press.

The Governor-General Dame Sandra Mason, in delivering the Throne Speech on September 15, 2020 to signal the opening of Parliament,  confirmed that the Mia Amor Mottley administration intends to declare Barbados a Republic State and in so doing, remove Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as the country’s Head of State.

The move to Republicanism along with the legislation on the use of marijuana in controlled amounts and the approval of same-sex civil unions has signaled a radical change in the social fabric of Barbados.

Some may argue that these proposed changes will bring the country into the modern world, but conversely, they wonder if the country will materially benefit. Previous governments have flirted with the idea of Republicanism before but have turned back at the altar.

Indeed, the Owen Arthur administration appeared fully set
to take the plunge around 1999 but found that external events
in the region at that time helped to cast doubt as to the wisdom of such a move.

At that time, Barbadians in the diaspora seemed mind bent on the view that the Queen should remain as the Head of State and one was inclined to believe that Republicanism had been put on the back burner or had died a “temporary death” to be resurrected at some later date.

There now seems to be a sea change of opinion in the diaspora and a recent survey conducted by the UK Guardian newspaper in the town of Reading where a great number of Barbadians live and have lived for many years has found them to be overwhelmingly in favour of the proposal to move the island to Republic status.

Barbados TODAY, in conversations with members of the diaspora, have found that there is a lingering doubt regarding whether or not the country’s civil stability and reputation for upholding democratic practices will be compromised if the island were to ditch its ties to the
British Monarchy.

Some, although accepting the legitimacy of the constitutional right to move to a Republic with a two-thirds majority of Parliament in favour are wondering whether or not in the broader sense of democracy, a Referendum should be held to put the matter to rest.

It must be said that in many of these cases there appears to be a blind allegiance to an enshrined way of colonialism that perhaps no longer has a place in modern times. The country now moves towards meaningful adulthood, which should be rooted in a sense of self-esteem that will be enhanced with a Barbadian as Head of State.

Another area of the Governor General’s speech that has set the telephones buzzing is that of same-sex civil union.

The matter is one of heated debate and opinion appears polarised among those in the diaspora.

Many acknowledge that in this modern age where civil and equal rights appear to supersede all else that a case can be made in support of the Government’s proposal on the subject.

However, a great number who are steeped in the traditions of the church and the teachings therein are cautious in their views and whilst not violently supporting one side against the other, appear content to move with the times and live and let live.

However, those who also have a tolerant view to same-sex civil unions believe that that is as far as legislation should go and there should be no extension of rights in this area that could compromise the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman.

With regard to the three radical changes proposed, the legislation on the use of marijuana has attracted the least comment.

Members of the diaspora appear unconcerned about the legislation and believe it was only a matter of time before this step was taken. They also feel that the benefit to society will be such that the country will not now be tagging those young men as criminals who use marijuana socially.

Heaven knows how many young lives have been blighted and tarnished by sentences of imprisonment, in many cases unnecessarily lengthy, for using the substance.

This proposal should relieve the police from minor work and hopefully, will allow them to concentrate on tackling the more serious crimes that are fast becoming cancers in our society.