Gaston Brown officially confirmed by signing the relevant documents that the new head of state of Central America, included in the Lesser Antilles archipelago, was Charles III.
A moment later, he announced that a referendum would be held in the future on the current political system – a constitutional monarchy, which would turn into a republic in the event of an affirmative vote. This will happen if Prime Minister Brown is re-elected to office by the citizens next year (about 90,000 people live in Antigua and Barbuda).
– This is not an act of hostility (…) between Antigua and Barbuda and the monarchy – he confirmed on September 10 this year. In an interview with UK ITV News in St John, where the concert was held.
The state of Antigua and Barbuda gained its independence with limited self-government on November 1, 1981. For nearly 41 years it has belonged to the Commonwealth Kingdom, i.e. 15 states ruled by Charles III. Among them, among others Australia, Canada, Jamaica, Bahamas, Belize or Papua New Guinea.
Although the country wants to be fully independent of the Crown, Prime Minister Gaston Brown has assured that fully independent Antigua and Barbuda will continue to be involved in Commonwealth affairs, the BBC reports.
In the future, Jamaica and Belize are also likely to benefit from the referendum and become republics, according to the Guardian.
Last year, in November, Barbados became a republic. After Queen Elizabeth II, her position was taken over by non-partisan President Sandra Mason.
Source: BBC News, “The Guardian”
Created Date: Today 12:03
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