Republicanism in Antigua and Barbuda
{{Short description|Movement to turn Antigua and Barbuda into a republic}}{{Republicanism sidebar}}Republicanism in Antigua and Barbuda is a movement for the replacement of the constitutional monarchy of Antigua and Barbuda with a republican form of government.
Background
Antigua and Barbuda became independent from the United Kingdom in 1981 and is currently one of 15 Commonwealth members that share the same individual as monarch and head of state.{{Cite news |date=2022-09-11 |title=Antigua and Barbuda planning vote to become republic within three years, media report |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/antigua-barbuda-planning-vote-become-republic-within-3-years-media-2022-09-11/ |access-date=2023-05-08}} Its system of government is a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy.{{Citation |title=Antigua and Barbuda |date=2023-05-02 |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/antigua-and-barbuda/#government |work=The World Factbook |access-date=2023-05-09 |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |language=en}}
History
In 1994, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Lester Bird reportedly stated to Fidel Castro that he contemplated moving Antigua and Barbuda towards becoming a republic. After Bird explained that the then-Queen did not interfere in the country's politics, Castro suggested that Antigua and Barbuda remain as it is, as the monarch may provide a confidence in the constitution.{{Cite web |last= |date=2020-09-17 |title=COMMENTARY: Has the time come for Caribbean Republics? |url=https://antiguanewsroom.com/commentary-has-the-time-come-for-caribbean-republics/ |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=Antigua News Room |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=S |first=Ronald |last2=ers |date=2020-09-21 |title=Has the time come for Caribbean republics? |url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/has-the-time-come-for-caribbean-republics/ |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=Jamaica Observer |language=en-US}}
Information Minister Melford Nicholas said in 2020 that Antigua and Barbuda was likely to consider becoming a republic in the future, but that the focus at the time was returning the economy to its state prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |last= |date=2020-09-22 |title=Antigua and Barbuda in no rush to become a republic |url=https://antiguanewsroom.com/antigua-and-barbuda-in-no-rush-to-become-a-republic/ |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=Antigua News Room |language=en-US}}
After Barbados became a republic in November 2021, Minister of Tourism Charles Fernandez called for the government of Antigua and Barbuda to do the same.{{Cite web |last=jennelsa.johnson |date=2021-12-01 |title=Fernandez wants A&B to follow Barbados’ lead and become a Republic |url=https://antiguaobserver.com/fernandez-wants-ab-to-follow-barbados-lead-and-become-a-republic/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Antigua Observer Newspaper |language=en-GB}} The Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Support Commission, Dorbrene O’Marde, echoed Fernandez, but went on to say the move could include challenges.{{Cite web |title=‘Antigua and Barbuda should aspire to republicanism, but there will be challenges’ –O’Marde |url=https://antiguaobserver.com/antigua-and-barbuda-should-aspire-to-republicanism-but-there-will-be-challenges-omarde/}} O'Marde suggested considering the Dominican Republic model.{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-04-11 |title=Antigua and Barbuda: The Republic |url=https://antiguanewsroom.com/antigua-and-barbuda-the-republic/ |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=Antigua News Room |language=en-US}} Political and social commentator Carlon Knight said that other structural matters should be tended to before Antigua and Barbuda became a republic.{{Cite web |title=Experts discuss views on Antigua and Barbuda becoming a republic |url=https://antiguaobserver.com/experts-discuss-views-on-antigua-and-barbuda-becoming-a-republic/}}{{Cite web |last=Fleary |first=Sinai |date=2021-12-06 |title=Antigua and Barbuda the next Caribbean nation to become a republic? |url=https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/world-news/2021/12/06/antigua-and-barbuda-the-next-caribbean-nation-to-become-a-republic/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Voice Online |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Now Antigua is keen for republic status |url=https://www.caymaniantimes.ky/news/now-antigua-is-keen-for-republic-status |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=www.caymaniantimes.ky |language=en}}
During a royal tour by the Earl and Countess of Wessex in April 2022, the Prime Minister stated that Antigua and Barbuda would "one day become a republic", but the move was "not on the cards" at that time.{{Cite web |title=Edward and Sophie told Antigua and Barbuda wants to 'one day' be a republic during Caribbean visit |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2022-04-25/edward-and-sophie-told-antigua-and-barbuda-wants-to-one-day-be-a-republic}}{{Cite news |date=2022-04-25 |title=Royal couple told of Antigua and Barbuda's wish to be republic |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61221706 |access-date=2023-05-08}} In the same month, historian Ivor Ford suggested that most people in Antigua and Barbuda wanted to replace the Queen as head of state. He added that young people don't relate to the royal family and that the new head of state should be democratically elected.{{Cite news |date=2022-04-29 |title=Why British royals face simmering resentment in Caribbean |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-61256001 |access-date=2023-05-11}}
In June, the government clarified its position by saying that becoming a republic was not a current priority.{{Cite web |title=Government clarifies republic plans after apparent misunderstandings in UK media |url=https://antiguaobserver.com/government-clarifies-republic-plans-after-apparent-misunderstandings-in-uk-media-%EF%BF%BC/}}
In September 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne said he would call for a referendum on becoming a republic in the next term of government,{{Cite web |title=PM pledges referendum on country becoming a republic |url=https://antiguaobserver.com/pm-pledges-referendum-on-country-becoming-a-republic%EF%BF%BC/}} within three years. He added, “This is not an act of hostility or any difference between Antigua and Barbuda and the monarchy, but it is the final step to complete that circle of independence, to ensure that we are truly a sovereign nation."{{Cite news |agency=Press Association |date=2022-09-11 |title=Antigua and Barbuda to hold republic referendum within three years, says PM |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/11/antigua-and-barbuda-republic-referendum-within-three-years-pm-queen-death |access-date=2023-05-08 |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |title=Antigua and Barbuda plans referendum to become republic |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/11/antigua-and-barbuda-plan-vote-to-become-republic |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-09-12 |title=Antigua and Barbuda planning vote to become republic within three years, media report |url=https://www.euronews.com/2022/09/12/britain-royals-caribbean |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=euronews |language=en}}{{Cite journal |date=2022-01-01 |title=Caribbean republican shift may be slow and limited |url=https://doi.org/10.1108/OXAN-DB272836 |journal=Emerald Expert Briefings |volume=oxan-db |issue=oxan-db |doi=10.1108/OXAN-DB272836 |issn=2633-304X}} He said that this would not mean losing commonwealth membership, and "I think most people haven't even bothered to think about it." Antigua and Barbuda was the first country to suggest a move towards becoming a republic after the death of Elizabeth II.{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-09-19 |title=Republican Movements Catch Wind in Caribbean After Queen's Death |url=https://www.thestkittsnevisobserver.com/republican-movements-catch-wind-in-caribbean-after-queens-death/ |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=The St Kitts Nevis Observer |language=en-US}}
In the same month, Chief of staff to Browne Lionel Hurst said on the prospect of whether the country would want to take the step to becoming a republic, "We're not sure yet". If Gaston Browne were to win the 2023 Antiguan general election, the years before a referendum would include "selling the idea" to Antiguans and Barbudans.{{Cite web |title='Are We Ready?': Island Nation Debates Cutting Ties With British Monarchy |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/queen-elizabeth-antigua-and-barbuda-are-we-ready-island-nation-debates-cutting-ties-with-british-monarchy-3356321 |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=NDTV.com}}
In May 2023, following the coronation of King Charles III, the cabinet released a statement, “Despite their participation, the Head of Government reiterated his administration's determination to bring about a Republican form of Government, rather than continue ad infinitum the constitutional monarchy as now exists.” An update on a timeframe was not detailed. Browne also hoped to shift from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council to the Caribbean Court of Justice.{{Cite web |title=Antigua Govt set on dropping British monarch as head of state {{!}} Loop Caribbean News |url=https://caribbean.loopnews.com/content/antigua-says-it-set-dropping-british-monarch-head-state |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Loop News |language=en}}
Opinion polling
A 2023 Lord Ashcroft poll found that 47 per cent of those surveyed favoured becoming a republic, with 45 percent preferring to keep the monarchy and eight per cent undecided.{{Cite web |title=Uncharted Realms: The Future of the Monarchy in the UK and Around the World - Lord Ashcroft Polls |url=https://lordashcroftpolls.com/2023/05/uncharted-realms-the-future-of-the-monarchy-in-the-uk-and-around-the-world/#more-17010 |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=lordashcroftpolls.com}}{{Cite web |title=LORD ASHCROFT CORONATION POLL: UK BACKS MONARCHY, BUT SIX COUNTRIES WOULD VOTE TO BECOME REPUBLICS IN REFERENDUM TOMORROW |url=https://autos.yahoo.com/lord-ashcroft-coronation-poll-uk-060100750.html |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=autos.yahoo.com |language=en-US}}