Caribbean Republics: Bahamas and Antigua weigh dropping monarch

King Charles III’s current tour of the Caribbean has intensified political discussions about the region’s ties to the British Crown. Two prime ministers have publicly signaled that their nations are ready to evaluate the possibility of becoming republics. This move would remove the monarch as the ceremonial head of state, a shift that mirrors recent transitions in several neighboring islands.

Phillip Davis, the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, told Sky TV news last week that he is open to the idea. The Bahamas, where the King landed late last month, has already seen its neighbor Guyana, along with Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Dominica, establish republican systems. Davis noted that the decision requires a constitutional referendum, a process that has historically faced challenges in the archipelago.

Davis stated that he is personally agnostic on the issue, emphasizing that the choice belongs to the Bahamian people. He pointed out that his mandate from a May re-election did not include a specific instruction to hold a referendum on the monarchy. “I’m open to it, yes,” Davis said. He added that while the country has thrived since 1973, the question of whether to keep the King or move to a presidency is one for the electorate to decide.

In Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Gaston Browne expressed a clearer personal preference for a republican system. Browne, who is attending this week’s Commonwealth summit in Antigua, told British media that he would like to see the federation become a republic. However, he acknowledged that the transition is governed by strict constitutional provisions that require public approval through a referendum before the King can be formally replaced.

Browne said that until the question is put to the voters, King Charles remains the head of state and will continue to receive the customary respect. “I can say to you, I am a republican,” Browne said. He described the current situation as a period where political leaders must periodically test public sentiment without forcing an immediate change.

The discussions in The Bahamas and Antigua occur against the backdrop of a stalled process in Jamaica. The island nation has faced significant obstacles in its own push for republicanism, primarily due to disagreements between the two major political parties over the judiciary. This internal conflict has prevented Jamaica from completing the transition to a republic despite years of debate.

The governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) advocates for a phased approach. It proposes changing the head of state first while retaining the British Privy Council as the final court of appeal. The JLP has expressed distrust of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice, fearing potential political interference from regional leaders. It wants the CCJ to be introduced only after the switch to a republic is complete.

The opposition People’s National Party (PNP) argues for a more comprehensive model of independence. It contends that true autonomy is not achieved while British judges in London continue to decide appeals cases, especially when a regional court with local judges is available. The PNP has stated it will withhold its mandatory parliamentary support for the transition until the JLP agrees to switch to the CCJ simultaneously with the change in head of state.

With the Commonwealth summit underway, leaders from across the region are expected to address these constitutional questions in the coming days. The outcomes of these discussions may influence the timing of future referendums in nations currently under the Crown.