CLAT 2022 Current Affairs: Barbados- The World’s Newest Republic
As a CLAT aspirant, you are required to stay abreast of all the major developments happening around the globe. For CLAT 2022 Current Affairs, the news of Barbados becoming the world’s newest republic is quite important. Here is everything you need to know about the same:
Recently, Barbados became the world’s newest republic after officially removing Queen Elizabeth II as the Head of State. The move took place in an overnight ceremony in its capital Bridgetown.
Recently, Barbados became the world’s newest republic after officially removing Queen Elizabeth II as the Head of State. The move took place in an overnight ceremony in its capital Bridgetown.
About the new republic:
- Location: Island country in the south-eastern Caribbean Sea.
- First Presidential elect: Dame Sandra Prunella Mason [former governor general]
- Current Prime minister: Mia Amor Mottley
- Earlier under a constitutional monarchy as a British commonwealth nation, with the head of state being Queen Elizabeth.
- Barbados to celebrate republic day on: 30th November 2021, after 55 years of colonial rule.
- Groupings: Caribbean Community (CARICOM), formed in 1973.
- National Hero: Singer, Rihanna [former ambassador]
The Colonial Past:
- Barbados became an English colony in 1625, and after 400 years of British rule, it got independence. However, the queen continued to be the head of state.
- During this period, the Caribbean was home to some of the most institutionalised horrific actions of colonialism including slavery and indentured labour
Lingering effects of colonialism- The commonwealth of nations:
Despite its new status, Barbados will continue to be part of the commonwealth nations.
- Number of countries: 54 [voluntary and free cooperation]
- Headed by: Queen Elizabeth II.
- Grouping based on: International governmental organisation (the type of institution was asked in CLAT 2021) based on former territories of the British Empire and its colonies.
- Established by the London Declaration in 1949.
- Last country to join the commonwealth: Rwanda [2009]
- Commonwealth summit/Commonwealth heads of government- Once in two years (biennial)
What is a Republic?
- A republic is defined as “a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them.”
- Consequently, India became a republic on 26th January 1950, although it gained independence in 1947.
- Barbados does not plan to change the flags and other symbols, however it aims to remove terms like “royal” and “crown” from all of their official reference. Eg: Royal Barbados Police Force will become Barbados Police Force and crown lands would become state lands
- Republic day will be celebrated in memory of the Queen.
- The country’s first president: Erol Walton Barrow.
- Cox Commission [1979]a. Set up to see the feasibility of the republican system. However, the commission concluded that the people wished to remain under the system of constitutional monarchy.6. The last time the queen was removed as head of state was in 1992 when the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius proclaimed itself a republic.
India and Barbados:
Both are members of the United Nations, Commonwealth as well as the Non-Aligned movement. It also signed the International Solar Alliance, and ratified it in January 2021. It also sided with the G-4 resolution on expanding the UN Security Council in 2007, and further voted for India’s candidature for Non-Permanent seat in 2011 and now supports its endeavour for a permanent seat on the Security Council.
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Adithi Rajesh
Contributing author
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