After centuries of being a Spanish colony, the island nation has turned over a new leaf
The dark, blue Caribbean blue of Barbados was resplendent in all its glory over the weekend as thousands of people flocked to the island to witness the formalisation of the republic’s freedom after centuries of Spanish colonial domination.
The Barbados government was crowned on Sunday with a resignation speech by the prime minister, Freundel Stuart, who also presided over the formal swearing-in of the new president and prime minister.
Among the celebrations were gay pride parades and an art exhibition entitled Barbados was Never a Spanish Colony, entitled since it is internationally recognised as being carved out of the West Indies in 1960.
Barbados will become the 28th republic in the British Commonwealth. As a member of the former British Empire it became a republic in 1976 and retained the Queen as head of state until 1979.
On the first Wednesday of each month, the parliament of Barbados convenes at its parliament house.
Queen Elizabeth II, the head of state, is prohibited from commenting on anything that happens in Barbados, or anywhere else in the British Commonwealth.