The Caribbean country’s prime minister informed British media on Saturday that Antigua and Barbuda intends to hold a vote on becoming a republic within the next three years. If successful, this step might result in King Charles III losing his position as monarch.
Immediately following a local ceremony that recognized Charles III as the nation’s King in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, Prime Minister Gaston Browne told ITV News that this issue must be put to a vote within the next three years.
One of 14 Commonwealth nations that share the UK monarch as their head of state is the tiny Caribbean island republic, which broke away from Britain in 1981.
The ultimate step toward ensuring that we are actually a sovereign nation, according to Brown, is to become a republic, but he emphasized that this was not a hostile move and that Commonwealth membership would not be terminated.
The prime minister of Antigua did not respond right away when contacted for comment, and Reuters was unable to independently confirm the idea.
According to government statistics, there are less than 100,000 people living in the country.
PM Browne’s commitment comes amid a burgeoning republican movement in the Caribbean, where Barbados last year approved the abolition of the British monarchy and the ruling party in Jamaica has hinted that it may follow.
However, Browne, who is running for re-election next year, claimed he was not reacting to a broad call for a vote from Antiguans.
According to him, the majority of people haven’t even bothered to consider it, he told ITV.
News Mania Desk
