We’ve come to see but we can’t see anything,” she said.Ī protest that had been planned against Prince Charles’s participation in the event attracted much media criticism ahead of time. “This is our independence and usually on Independence Day I am on parade.so the fact that we can’t take part in it tonight. “Initially I was excited to see the performances,” one woman told me, “This is chaos.people are not being able to connect with those performances.” Juliette from Saint Michael said that she was annoyed that there was no parade. Many who had gathered on a bridge near to the square hoping to get a closer look were frustrated to be moved on. Not everyone was happy, however, about all aspects of the celebrations. “I think it means change, but change in a positive way.”
Traveena Harewood, 20, from Bridgetown described the moment as “history-making,” “We really needed to see something like this so that brought me down here today,” she said. “This is the first republic for the 21st century, and that’s so exciting that we get to see and witness that,” Johanette said. Those in the crowds nearby last night included university students Joia Scotland, 21, and Johanette Joseph, 20, from Antigua and St Lucia respectively who described the moment as a “big deal” and said they supported “all islands” doing the same thing and it was a “good example for the rest of the region.” There have been suggestions that this move by Barbados, which is the first country to get rid of the Queen as head of state since Mauritius in 1992, could create a ripple effect elsewhere. In a speech an hour later after the republic of Barbados was declared and the Presidential Standard raised, Prince Charles spoke directly of the “appalling atrocity of slavery, which forever stains our history.” He joined a final salute to Barbados before departing, after the new President, at around 1:30 a.m. New President Dame Sandra Mason described the moment as the republic’s “maiden voyage.” “May you continue to shine bright like a diamond,” the Prime Minister told the singer. Some of the biggest cheers of the night were reserved for Rihanna, who was declared a national hero by Prime Minister Mia Mottley. They watched on screens, with COVID and the unprecedented nature of the events meaning that the celebrations were somewhat different to the annual Independence Day parade that is usually held every November 30 marking the moment in 1966 that the independence act took effect. Sporadic and distant cheers could be heard from the crowds in Bridgetown, many who were on the opposite side of Constitution River. Just behind it, the corner of the Royal Bank of Canada overlooked the square, a reminder that there now remain 14 countries outside of the UK who retain the Queen as head of state.
Wearing a mask, he sat, hands clasped, while a military display paid a final “compliments to the monarchy.” Then, the Royal Standard flag was lowered to the tune of Auld Lang Syne. The Prince was the last to arrive for the handover ceremony, a fact which reflected the top-dog status that he had lost by the time he departed almost two hours later.