Antigua and Barbuda plans to maintain a referendum on turning into a republic within the subsequent three years, the Caribbean nation’s prime minister informed British media Saturday, a transfer that might see King Charles III eliminated as its head of state.
“This is a matter that has to be taken to a referendum…within the subsequent, most likely, three years,” Prime Minister Gaston Browne informed ITV News shortly after an area ceremony confirmed Charles III because the nation’s King following Queen Elizabeth II’s loss of life.
The tiny Caribbean island nation, which turned impartial from Britain in 1981, is one in every of 14 (*3*) members who share the UK monarch as their head of state.
Brown stated turning into a republic was “a last step to full the circle of independence to guarantee we’re really a sovereign nation,” however harassed a referendum was “not an act of hostility” and wouldn’t contain retiring (*3*) membership.
Antigua’s prime minister didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark, and Reuters was not in a position to independently confirm the proposal.
The nation has a inhabitants of lower than 100,000, in accordance to official knowledge.
Browne’s pledge comes amid a rising republican push throughout the Caribbean area, with Barbados voting to take away the UK monarchy final 12 months, and the ruling get together in Jamaica having signaled it could observe.
Nonetheless, Browne – who’s up for re-election subsequent 12 months – stated he was not responding to a widespread push from Antiguans to maintain a vote.
“I feel most individuals haven’t even bothered to assume about it,” he informed ITV.