Barbados: World’s Newest Republic

• 01 Dec 2021

Why in News

Recently, Barbados has officially removed Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state and become the world's newest republic nearly 400 years after the country became a British colony.

• The Caribbean island nation, 55 years after its independence, got rid of the remnants of colonial rule by separating from Britain.
• Barbados, however, will continue to be one of the 54 Commonwealth nations.

Key Points

• About:
  
  • Barbados:
    
    • Location: It is a small island country in the south-eastern Caribbean Sea. 
    • Neighbours: Its neighbours include Saint Lucia, to the north, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, to the west, and Trinidad and Tobago to the south.
    • Capital: Bridgetown
    • Independence: On November 30, 1966, Barbados gained its independence.
    • Leadership:
      
      • Dame Sandra Prunella Mason is the current President of Barbados.
      • Mia Amor Mottley is the current Prime Minister of Barbados.
    • Part of CARICOM: Barbados is part of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) which was formed in 1973.
  • History of Barbados:
    
    • Barbados first became an English colony in 1625. It was a part of the British Empire for over 400 years, a link in the lines of trade, commerce and oppression that English mercantilism and colonialism fostered for centuries.
  • Slaves, indentured labour, a lack of democracy — the Caribbean was home to some of the most institutionalised and invisibilised horrors in history.
• India and Barbados Relations:
  
  • Shared Platforms: India and Barbados enjoy close and cordial relations and interact actively in the United Nations (UN), Commonwealth and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and other international fora.
    
    • Barbados is also a signatory to International Solar Alliance and has ratified it in January, 2021
  • Air Services Agreement: India and Barbados have signed the Air Services Agreement in 2015, for facilitation of travel arrangements for the citizens and the possibility of direct air connectivity and chartered flight operations between the two countries.
    
    • The first ever Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and Barbados was held in Bridgetown, Barbados in 2015.
  • UNSC Reform: Barbados supported the G-4 resolution on expanding the UN Security Council in 2007.
    
    • The country also voted for India's candidature for Non-Permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2011–12, and supports India's candidature for a permanent seat on the Security Council.
  • Bilateral Trade:
    
    • Export (USD 12.76 million 2019-20): Indian exports include vehicles, pharmaceuticals, textiles, iron & steel, organic chemicals, etc.
    • Import (USD 1.48 million 2019-20): Indian imports include electrical machinery, optical photography, cinematographic equipment.
  • Sports and Culture:
    
    • Cricket being a great connection in India, Barbadian cricketers of yore and modern times are household names among Indian sport lovers.
    • Many Barbadian cricketers are members of Indian Premier League teams.
  • Indian Community:
    
    • Approximately 2500 people of Indian origin have settled in Barbados and most of them have since acquired local nationality.

Commonwealth of Nations

• It is an international intergovernmental organization of countries that were mostly former territories of the British Empire and dependencies.
• It was established by the London Declaration in 1949.
• Queen Elizabeth II is the head of the Commonwealth.
• The current membership includes 54 Countries. The membership is based on free and equal voluntary co -operation.
  
  • It is home to 2.5 billion people, and includes both advanced economies and developing countries.
• The last country to join the Commonwealth was Rwanda in 2009.
• The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is a biennial summit meeting of the heads of government from all Commonwealth nations.

Source: IE