Newly bold talk about republicanism and reparations

An itchiness is breaking out across the body politic of the 15 Commonwealth 'realms'

Windsor. Photo by King's Church International on Unsplash

If there were ever a reminder of how quickly the global conversation is veering towards republicanism and reparations for slavery, it is Ralph Gonsalves’ assertion that having the British monarch as head of state is “an absurdity”.

On Monday (May 8) the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines said he would like to end the British sovereign’s right to take his country’s highest office. In so doing, Dr Gonsalves became the second Caribbean leader to publicly moot dumping King Charles III as head of state, within 48 hours of the coronation.

Right before Dr Gonsalves spoke, the St Kitts and Nevis prime minister said much the same thing. Like Dr Gonsalves, Dr Terrance Drew picked the British Broadcasting Corporation to convey his intention to hold public consultations on his country’s move to become a republic.

Despite gaining independence from Britain nearly 40 years ago, he said, St Kitts and Nevis is “not totally free” so lon…