• The Caribbean island nation of Barbados has declared itself a republic, a move that coincides with the 55th anniversary of its independence from Britain.
  • The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in the U.S. may have lent greater impetus to Barbados to finally sever links with its colonial past.
  • The decision has come with a set of controversies. One of the disputes concerns Ms. Mottley’s refusal to seek public approval for the landmark political transition through a popular referendum. The leader of the opposition has also criticised the lack of clarity regarding the nature of the new republic and the proposed constitution.