BRITAIN’S Queen Elizabeth II signing her annual Commonwealth Day Message inside St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle, England, last Friday. Photo: Steve Parsons/Pool via AP
By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT
tsmith-cartwright@tribunemedia.net
WITH Barbados set to remove the British monarchy as its head of state later this year, opinion seems to be split about whether The Bahamas should follow.
Anglican priest Father Sebastian Campbell said it is “a farce” for The Bahamas to think it is fully independent as long as it continues to hold on to the monarchy as its head of state.
“The monarchy should have been abolished a long time ago,” Father Campbell said when contacted by The Tribune.
“We are dragging our feet. I don’t know how come Barbados is leading us in this. We are not fully independent. That is a farce. Independent countries should not be swearing allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen.”
“Barbados will stop that. At least other countries are talking about it.
“We should be trying to separate ourselves even more now from the monarchy. We continue to support a system that is totally dysfunctional. A system that is marked with a lot of ills and we continued to hold on to it. The colonial system gave birth to slavery and lasted for 300 years.”
The issue of the monarchy’s role in former British colonies has grabbed renewed attention after the bombshell interview Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, gave to American television personality Oprah Winfrey.
In the tell-all interview that aired on Sunday, Ms Markle said she contemplated suicide as a senior royal while pregnant with her son Archie. She claimed officials in “the institution” of the monarchy did not help when she sought assistance. Ms Markle, who is biracial, also felt the Royal Family and the institution—officials who run the palace—did not protect her from what she and her husband saw as racist attacks from Britain’s tabloid press.
She and Prince Harry also disclosed that while she was pregnant with her first child, one Royal Family member had “concerns and conversations about how dark” Archie’s skin would be. Prince Harry later clarified that these remarks were not made by his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth nor his grandfather, Prince Phillip.
Ms Markle also suggested Archie was not given a royal title due to his racial heritage.
In a statement released this week, Queen Elizabeth said the issues on race raised by Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex are “concerning”. She said while “some recollections may vary,” they are taken seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.
Meanwhile, Fr Campbell said the colonial style of governance that we currently practice is the worst form of mind enslavement. He thanked Prince Harry and his wife for pulling the veil back on the institution.
Fr Campbell continued: “The ugly side of it has always been there but thank God for Harry and Meghan’s story which is really bringing it to light. They are still bogged down with racism. That comes out so clearly and we continue to worship this thing (the monarchy).
“Mia Mottley and Barbados is a good example to follow. She is mentally liberated and has been pushing for this for a long time from when she was minister of culture. When we have such a mindset at the top, it makes a big difference. We look forward to future leadership who would really and truly continue to run with this.”
The Tribune asked Minister of Foreign Affairs Darren Henfield for his view.
He responded, “Sorry, no comment at the moment.”
For his part, chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party, Senator Fred Mitchell said although his party has no real policy on the monarchy, he personally feels it should be done away with. He is disappointed that this current generation is not anti-monarchist.
Senator Mitchell said: “There is no policy by the PLP on the abolition of the monarchy. I and others like Alfred Sears, QC, have long said the monarchy is a quaint anarchism that should fall away. I have personally led the discussion on this matter for over three decades and it is a tiresome subject to me now. As Michael Manley used to say ‘it’s impatient of debate.’
“I have wondered what philosophical issue would engage this generation beyond idle gossip on social media. I had hoped by now that someone from this generation would have been inspired to adopt the anti-monarchist cause but alas—and this is a typical old man’s lament—I fear it does not ignite the more noble minds of my successors. I continue to urge them to adopt the idea. I will continue to lobby for its adoption.”
Unlike Senator Mitchell, former FNM Free National Movement Cabinet minister Maurice Moore feels the relationship with the British has its benefits.
Mr Moore said, “As far as I am concerned I don’t think we should move away from the monarchy. There must be some benefits, not a whole lot, to the relationship. It is a positive. I think it will help us more than hurt us at this stage. I don’t think us cutting Britain loose will be of any help. We should keep that relationship.”
Maurice Tynes, former clerk of the House of Assembly, said approval was given to Barbados a long time ago to have its own head of state.
“My opinion is that I thought we ought to have made the step to separate ourselves from the monarchy a long time ago,” Mr Tynes told The Tribune. “Just for people’s dignity I thought we ought to go with the evolution of our democracy. It’s the next step. This is something that we ought to have done a long time ago.
“Barbados passed the law almost 20 years ago for permission for them to change the constitution, but they didn’t do it all at once. They are doing it in stages. So that approval was given years ago to make that move.”
By November, Barbados will remove the monarchy as its head of state coinciding with that Caribbean island’s 55th anniversary of independence. It is the just the latest country in the region to make inroads to become a republic. In 1970, Guyana cut ties with the Queen as its head of state, followed by Trinidad and Tobago in 1976, and Dominica in 1978.
Like the countries it follows, Barbados will remain a part of the Commonwealth.
The Queen’s role as head of state is largely considered to be ceremonial, however she is represented by a Governor-General who carries out duties on her behalf.
Comments
John 3 years, 8 months ago
Britain’s about establishing stronger bites with The Bahamas so this (dumping the queen) may be in the distance future.
OMG 3 years, 8 months ago
There are many discrepancies with the 2 hour interview, and not only did Oprah not challenge any statement but not ask any questions regarding her relationship/treatment of her father. |Interestingly enough she hardly knew Oprah but invited her to the wedding. Just one example where she says that her passport/keys etc were taken away. How then given her sadness/feeling ignored etc etc did she struggle through over 13 overseas trips many to exotic locations
ohdrap4 3 years, 8 months ago
To make up for all the sadness, she spent millions of dollars in clothing, more than half million dollars in maternity clothing alone. That should have cured it.
When Charles was paying for it, the dresses cost $3,000, now they cost $300.
Harry seems dejected he has to spend his own money.
People hate them now.
John 3 years, 8 months ago
Once you go Black, you can’t go back!
ColumbusPillow 3 years, 8 months ago
In Canada as in the Bahamas, we have a CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY a most stable form of government. Our current PM Mr Trudeau has almost destroyed the economy of Canada resulting in great disunity and instability. However the monarchy represents a degree of needed stability in these troubling times. Good luck Barbados, let us see how abolishing the monarchy works out for you!
stislez 3 years, 8 months ago
This comment above WTF! Did you miss the point of we wouldn't be in these predicaments if it wasn't for colonialism. Every slave ship that came from england, Scotland, Portuguese etc had been blessed by the pope. The monarchy and the church initiated slavery! An u talkin shit bout not abolishing gtfoh!
John 3 years, 8 months ago
Yes and weren’t they your descendants ( slave masters ) on those ships? So now you gtfoh!
truetruebahamian 3 years, 8 months ago
What a blind stupid statement, stislez
C2B 3 years, 8 months ago
England and Scotland did not have slaves. Blaming colonialism for slavery and then trying to implicate the British by association only works on dummies. Slavery existed in Africa long before sailing ships were invented.
truetruebahamian 3 years, 8 months ago
We should definitely not throw out the Queen with the bath water. Her attachment to us is beneficial in so many ways.
Alan1 3 years, 8 months ago
The Bahamas has had a long association with the Monarchy. The Crown is an important part of our democratic values. and provides the stability we require. An impartial Head of State is an anchor at the top. The Queen appoints Bahamians to serve as Governor-General and they serve basically as an Officer administering the Government. We are fully independent as are the other Commonwealth monarchies such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Arguments for a republic are mostly on emotional feelings rather than reason.. The track records 9f republics is very poor with power grabs and instability by politicians resulting in economic decline. . We have seen such scenarios across the globe. Our parliament and our courts under The Crown ensure we have a sound future. On a personal level Her Majesty The Queen has served The Commonwealth in faithful service for 70 years next February. She is well deserving of our ongoing support. It is one thing to knock the Monarchy, It is quite another matter to find a replacement which would serve us any better. The Monarchy gives The Bahamas international prestige as a safe place to invest and live. . Already there have been negative reactions to Barbados becoming a republic amongst the business community there and overseas and their ending 395 years of stability under The Crown. I do not believe we should be embarking on a similar path. Let us be proud of and appreciate our history.
TalRussell 3 years, 8 months ago
Why not appoint meself as the Realm's, local Royal commentator.
I do know how to spot when tellin' the truth isn't much supportive of Harry and Meghan's versions of anything.
The two didn't leave England to head directly to live in the USA. They left and lived in Canada - that is until Canada's prime minister, withdraw Canadian taxpayers' paying for their security detail.
Only after their American rich friends like Oprah, and others, assumed the responsibility of paying the security tap for the two, spongin spoils, did they take flight, out of Canada to head for the US, Yes?
tribanon 3 years, 8 months ago
Can we please dump Minnis first?
Baha10 3 years, 8 months ago
God save The Queen ... FOREVER!!!
JokeyJack 3 years, 8 months ago
"In 1970, Guyana cut ties with the Queen as its head of state, followed by Trinidad and Tobago in 1976, and Dominica in 1978."
Hence the HUGE numbers of Bahamians applying for work/residence permits and marrying to get status in those three countries - LOL.
Maybe the Bahamas should wait until we can actually package and market the salt from Inagua right here in the Bahamas, and do the same with sugar. Why are we buying salt and sugar packaged abroad?
People who think we should get rid of the Queen do understand our Constitution. The PM is the leader of the majority party in the House, and gets to appoint the majority of Senators and gets to appoint (with the Queen's approval) the Governor General. He is a virtual dictator as we saw for several years preceding 1992. The only hope we have to not actually become a dictatorship is that some Governor General would actually stand up to him if he did something really crazy.
We've been talking about an elected Senator for years. Talking about Constitutional reform, talking about ..., and talking about.... Perhaps if the Bahamas wanted to have it's own "independent" talk show we could do that. We kinda good at talking - although severely limited by the libel laws (more than needed).
People wanting to remove the Monarchy have no idea what affects the price of bread in the food store.
JokeyJack 3 years, 8 months ago
... at the same time, I would add that she seems (to me) to be pretty useless to us in a practical way. What has she done to increase human rights here? Fox Hill Prison (new name don't change nuttin), conditions in children's homes and old folks homes. Whenever any of them (her or Charles or whoever) do come here they announce their coming weeks/months in advance to that government can "pretty up" - just like how the health inspectors here announce their inspection date to restaurants days ahead of time - LOL.
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