BRIDGETOWN (BARBADOS). Prince Charles did not mention the word “sorry” this morning. But his speech in the capital of Barbados, Bridgetown, has rare, historical and powerful words, spoken at dawn today in Italy and which recognize perhaps for the first time in such an explicit way “the indelible stain that has dirtied our history” , British and royal. That is, slavery.
“The republic for you here in Barbados is a new beginning”, the Prince of Wales heir to the British throne assured, “from the darkest days of our past, and from the shameful atrocity of slavery that has indelibly stained our history, the people of this island was inspired by freedom, justice and self-determination. We will remain friends, and you will be the artisans of your destiny ”, quote from the Barbados hymn. Which starts immediately after the British one, to launch the ceremonies of the newborn Commonwealth republic born exactly at midnight, 55 years after independence from the British Empire, and also in the presence of the Barbadian-born pop star Rihanna, named the new “heroine of the homeland “.
Why “Tonight’s the night”. Tonight is the night, the Daily Nation headlined yesterday on the stall of Sharon, 50 years old. We are on Swan Street, the market street of Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados. “Can I take a picture of her with the newspaper?”. “No. My life won’t change tonight ”.
Barbados, is the party here? For the island’s pugnacious Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, of course she is. It is she who, at the age of 56, finally managed to say goodbye to Queen Elizabeth. Months ago his government voted to pass from monarchy to republic, which took place yesterday at midnight in the presence of the heir to the British throne, Prince Charles, of whom the Republic was in tow. For the first time in history, a member of the royal family attended the ceremony of a Commonwealth country that became a republic.
But Barbados, while remaining in the Commonwealth, is also the first to sever ties with the Crown since the decolonization that ended at the end of the last century: the last was Mauritius in 1992. From midnight instead, four centuries after the arrival of an English boat here in 1625 who named the island to King James I, Barbados removed the word “Royal” and all portraits of Elizabeth II. In her place, the new President of the Republic, also a courageous and irreducible woman, named Sandra Mason, 72 years old. Between fireworks, cannon shots, the British and Barbadoregno anthem and the flags with the yellow and blue trident in the sky.
However, if the local government has completed the rebirth of an island, a paradise for tourists but still wounded by slavery, many in Bridgtown are indifferent. In the bumpy streets of pastel buildings, Georgian and Jacobin colonial mansions, the mansions of the old cotton plantations, the colorful Chattel houses, mahogany trees and succulent aromas of Caribbean food, there is a less festive air.
First of all, for Covid: everyone wears masks even outdoors, there are long lines at every shop and the authorities have limited the turnout to the celebrations in Heroes’ Square, where, at 00.01 on 30 November, in addition to the republic they were celebrated 55 years of independence from the British Empire. Heroes like former Prime Minister Errol Barrow, whose statues are everywhere between Independence Square and Arch. While the neighbor of the “colonialist” Horatio Nelson was knocked out a year ago in the wake of Black Lives Matter.
But many in Bridgetown, under 31 degrees of sunshine and heat, are not thrilled by the farewell to the Queen, also because they have other concerns: Covid has hammered tourism and an already shaky economy. Marissa Dowell, 31, a government employee and black like almost the entire population of Barbados (91%) after the slavery from Africa ended by the British only in 1834, admits: “I don’t know what could change with the Republic.”
Excluding the Republicans, many ask themselves, between indifference and anger: Lee Williams is 16 years old, is in line with his mother at the “Republic Bank”: “The only thing that could change things is money. Will the republic take them? “. David Denny knows where to find them. The most famous local member of Black Lives Matter, has been campaigning in Independence Square for months: “Colonialist reparations! Only in this way can the British Empire be forgiven! ”.
“Carlo is in a difficult situation: by mandate from the government, he cannot say anything that gives rise to British compensation”, Professor Philip Murphy, director of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, explains to “Repubblica”. a former British colony, the Prince of Wales arrived in a storm of sentiments: Bridgetown could trigger a domino effect of republicanism, from other Caribbean islands to Canada and Australia, and shrink even more his monarchy that he already wants “restricted”. In addition, a book comes out today in America that accuses him of being the alleged, anonymous “racist” of the family revealed by Harry and Meghan, which, by being mindful of the diversity he is, has sparked his ire and legal action. Caribbean, then, an offensive by China is underway to increase influence in infrastructures and trade. They know it well in London, Carlo also came for this, “to continue sharing our common values” as he declared last night , or in addition to its heartfelt commitment to climate change.
And the Queen, who remains head of state in the Commonwealth of 15 other countries including Canada and Australia, in addition to the United Kingdom? Last night she sent an affectionate letter to the former colony that repudiated her: “Long live congratulations and best wishes. I am happy that my son is with you ”, (“ my son ”, rare informal tone)“ you will always remain in my heart ”. Signed, Elizabeth R., initial of “queen” in Latin. But not from Barbados.
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