A former British colony will hold a referendum on becoming a republic, according to its prime minister.
If the referendum is successful, King Charles III will be deposed as the leader of Antigua and Barbuda.
After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s colonial past has been thrust into the spotlight.
Antigua and Barbuda, a former province of the British Empire and a commonwealth nation, will hold a referendum on becoming a republic and replacing King Charles III as head of state, according to its prime minister.
Prime Gaston Browne told ITV in the United minister, “This is a matter that must be taken by the people in a referendum.”
“This is not an act of animosity or any distinction between Antigua and Barbuda and the monarchy, but it is the final step to ensure that we are truly an independent nation”
He predicted that the vote would likely occur within the next three years.
King Charles III is the monarch and the head of state in fourteen countries besides the United Kingdom, including Antigua and Barbuda.
Despite the fact that his position is mostly symbolic, the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday prompted renewed discussions about the legacy of Britain’s imperialist reign and the future relationship between the United Kingdom and some of those countries.
The Queen welcomes the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda in the Blue Drawing Room at The Queen’s Dinner during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on April 19, 2018 at Buckingham Palace in London, England.
Victoria Jones – WPA Pool / Getty
For instance, in an article for Insider, Kenyan author Patrick Gathara described the British monarchy, and thus the late Queen’s reign, as “built on a systematic and sustained effort to erase the truth of colonial subjugation and plunder,” adding that “The UK withdrawal from its colonial dominions was accompanied by the destruction, theft, and concealment of huge stacks of embarrassing documents, including details of the horrific, systemic abuse and murder of detainees during tyranny
However, conversations over the future of the Commonwealth and the continuation of the British queen as the head of state in other countries had already begun before to her death.
For instance, in November 2021, Barbados abolished the monarchy and became a republic. It was one of seventeen nations that removed her as their leader during her rule.
The relocation of Barbados also spurred debates over whether or not countries desired to be a part of the vestiges of the British empire.
Adeyela Bennett, a charity business owner from the Bahamas — another former British colony — told Insider after Barbados became a Republic, “We love this particular Queen Elizabeth, but when we’re honest with ourselves, we have to admit that these people colonized us. They’re imperialists.”