Avellon Williams
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS- In the near future, St Kitts and Nevis may become a republic, according to a senior minister.
Denzil Douglas, the government’s foreign minister, has said it is time for the twin islands to become a “true independent country.”
Following similar announcements from Jamaica and Antigua and Barbuda, which both plan to become republics, the news comes as no surprise.
During 1995-2015, Mr. Douglas served as Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis.
He had earlier mentioned that In some countries, Queen Elizabeth II( now the late) remains head of state for “sentimental” reasons, he told Axios World.
“She was not offensive to us,” though “of course, we recognize what the developing world suffered as colonies.”
New beginnings
Several Caribbean islands are now ruled by King Charles III, including Antigua, The Bahamas, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines.
Mr. Douglas described St Kitts and Nevis’ relationship with the UK as ‘exceptional’ during his time as a representative at the Queen’s funeral last month.
According to him, the time is ripe to make major changes in the Caribbean region and the country as a whole.
In the wake of Queen Elizabeth’s death, ‘people are encouraged to acknowledge we must deal with our future realistically and positively.’
“It is a real trend more and more countries in the Caribbean are pursuing,” he says.
“One of the cool things, though, is that one can still keep membership of the Commonwealth and continue a very good relationship with the United Kingdom.”
Recently, The Bahamas’ prime minister Phillip Davis called for a referendum on becoming a republic and urged Bahamians to decide whether the country should break ties with the British monarchy.
The time has come for the conversation to start about a constitutional referendum in his country, but Douglas says there is “no particular timeline.”
Caribbean republics
With St Kitts and Nevis becoming the next Caribbean republic, the country will follow in the footsteps of others in the region that opted for a home-grown leader.
The Republic of Guyana was established in 1970, followed by the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in 1976, and the Republic of Dominica in 1978.
On November 30, 2021, Barbados became the world’s newest republic, marking its 55th year of independence.
Following the overthrow of the French colonial regime, Haiti became the first independent Caribbean nation and the world’s first black republic.
There is a theory that Haiti’s independence influenced many subsequent rebellions across the Caribbean by enslaved people.
Belize and Jamaica
Belize and Jamaica express intent to become republics in 2022.
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Constitutional and Political Reform, told fellow parliamentarians in March that Belize must own its independence.
During the June session of the House of Representatives, a senior minister announced Jamaica will become a republic in 2025.
A Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC) is now being established, according to Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Marlene Malahoo Forte.
“It is expected that the Parliament of Jamaica will eventually enact a new Constitution of Jamaica, which will, among other things, establish the Republic of Jamaica as a parliamentary republic, replacing the Constitutional Monarchy, and affirming our cultural heritage and self-determination,” Ms. MalahooForte said.
