Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2021 Explained

Short Title:Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2021
Long Title:An Act to alter the Constitution in order to provide for Barbados to become a republic with a President who shall be Head of State of Barbados; and to provide for related matters.
Citation:Act 2021–22
Royal Assent:7 October 2021
Signed By:Sandra Mason (Governor-General of Barbados)
Date Commenced:11 October 2021 (section 7)
30 November 2021 (other sections)
Legislature:Parliament of Barbados
Territorial Extent:Barbados
Bill Citation:Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2021
Bill Date:20 September 2021
Enacted By:House of Assembly of Barbados
Introduced By:Mia Mottley (Prime Minister of Barbados)
1St Reading:28 September 2021
2Nd Reading:28 September 2021
Date Passed:28 September 2021
Enacted By2:Senate of Barbados
1St Reading2:29 September 2021
2Nd Reading2:6 October 2021
Date Passed2:6 October 2021
Related Legislation:Barbados Independence Act 1966
Keywords:Republicanism, Head of state, Diplomatic credentials, Commonwealth membership criteria
Status:current

The Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2021 is an act that amended the Constitution of Barbados to replace the Monarchy of Barbados as the country's Head of State with the office of the President of Barbados thereby transitioning its form of governance from a monarchy to a republic. Under the Act all of the functions previously performed by the Monarch and their Governor-General were transferred to the president. The amendment was passed on the 6 October 2021 with its commencement via proclamation being 11 October 2021 (section 7) and 30 November 2021 (other sections).[1] [2] [3] [4] Its long title was:

Background

Barbados became an independent nation state on 30 November 1966, having previously been a British colony. Like many other former colonies, Barbados became a Commonwealth realm, with Elizabeth II as Queen of Barbados.

In September 2020, the Barbados Labour Party government of Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced in its Throne Speech that Barbados would become a republic by November 2021.[5] [6] The Barbados Labour Party held a two-thirds majority in both houses of the Barbadian Parliament (including all but one lower house seat), enough to approve a constitutional amendment.[7] [8] If the plan was successful, it meant that Barbados would cease to be a Commonwealth realm, but would maintain membership in the Commonwealth of Nations.[9] [10]

Legislative history

The Bill was introduced to the House of Assembly of Barbados on 20 September 2021 and had its first and second reading on the 28 September 2021. The Bill was then passed that same day and sent to the Senate the following day on the 29th where it had its first reading that day and its second reading on 6 October 2021. It was then signed into law on the 7 October 2021 by Governor-General Sandra Mason.

Amendments

Criticism

Then Opposition senator Caswell Franklyn, while supportive of the transition to a republic, criticized the bill stating that a new constitution "should be drawn up" to facilitate the transition instead of an amendment to the Barbados Independence Act 1966, further adding that the process was "rushed".[12]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: crossmedia . 2021-10-08 . Gazette - October 8, 2021 Constitution Amendment ACT Part A & S.I. Government Printing Department . 2024-01-16 . governmentprintery.gov.bb . en-US.
  2. Web site: S.I. 2021 No. 83 . Government Printing Department . 21 August 2024 . 22 November 2021.
  3. Web site: Barbados Parliament Bills Archive Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2021 . 2024-01-16 . www.barbadosparliament.com.
  4. Web site: crossmedia . 2021-10-11 . Gazette - October 11, 2021 Part A Government Printing Department . 2024-01-16 . governmentprintery.gov.bb . en-US.
  5. News: 16 September 2020 . Barbados to remove Queen Elizabeth II as head of state and declare republic . The Independent . 16 September 2020 . 16 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200916095241/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/barbados-republic-queen-elizabeth-head-state-b450871.html . live .
  6. Web site: 15 September 2020 . Barbados revives plan to remove Queen as head of state and become a republic . 15 September 2020 . . en-GB . 16 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200916012603/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/16/barbados-revives-plan-to-remove-queen-as-head-of-state-and-become-a-republic . live .
  7. News: 20 August 2020 . Editorial: The Need for Reform . The Barbados Advocate . 16 September 2020 . 17 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200917000102/https://www.barbadosadvocate.com/columns/editorial-need-reform-0 . live .
  8. News: Taylor . Rebecca . 16 September 2020 . Queen responds after Barbados removes her as head of state – 'it's a matter for the people' . Yahoo News UK . 16 September 2020 . 20 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200920182735/https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/queen-says-removing-head-of-state-decision-for-people-barbados-101702934.html . live .
  9. Web site: Team . Caribbean Lifestyle Editorial . 15 September 2020 . Barbados to become an Independent Republic in 2021 . 15 September 2020 . Caribbean Culture and Lifestyle . en-US . 23 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210923111016/https://caribbeanlifestyle.com/barbados-to-become-republic-by-2021/ . live .
  10. Web site: Speare-Cole . Rebecca . 16 September 2020 . Barbados to remove Queen as head of state by November 2021 . 16 September 2020 . Evening Standard . en . 13 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210813201215/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/barbados-queen-head-of-state-removal-a4548381.html . live .
  11. Web site: 20 September 2021 . Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210921212243/https://www.barbadosparliament.com/uploads/bill_resolution/068a734cb4b6fe4dcf0f60438d58a95c.pdf . 21 September 2021 . . 21 September 2021.
  12. Web site: Today . Barbados . 2021-10-07 . Franklyn: Barbados needs all-new Constitution . 2024-01-16 . Barbados Today . en-US.