On Wednesday, a top official stated that Barbados would soon become a republic and leave its colonial past behind, after the Caribbean island nation vocally desired to remove Britain’s Queen Elizabeth as its head of state.

In 1966, a former British colony, Barbados gained independence. It is a nation of just under 300,000 and has maintained a formal link with the British monarchy as have some other countries that were once part of the British Empire.

Barbados Governor General Sandra Mason, delivering a speech on behalf of the country’s Prime Minister Mia Mottley declared that the time has come for Barbados to fully leave the colonial past behind. Mottley who had won a landslide victory in 2018, had communicated its plan of action to the Australia which is technically under the British crown. The PM of Barbados stated that the time has come for the country to take the decisions fully on its own.

Governor General Sandra Mason said Barbadians want a Barbadian head of state. This has been the ultimate statement of confidence on part of the Governor General of Barbados regarding the capacity of the country to achieve on its own.

Hence, the governor general Mason stated that Barbados will take the next logical step toward full sovereignty and become a republic by the time of celebration of 55th anniversary of independence which will come in November 2021.

In 1813, a bronze statue of Admiral Lord Nelson was erected, which still stands on Broad Street in the capital city of Bridgetown. Last month, it was scheduled for removal when different countries around the world started removing similar statues from public spaces as protests against racism grew. Roy R. Morris, press secretary to the prime minister of Barbados, said in response to Reuters’ questions, that there was no particular trigger for the timing of a renewed push to become a republic other than fulfilling a longstanding promise by the island’s politicians.