Antigua and Barbuda plans to hold a referendum to become a republic in the next three years, the Prime Minister of the Caribbean State told British media Saturday, a step that could make King Charles III removed as Head of State.
“This is a problem that must be brought to the referendum … in the next time, maybe, three years,” Prime Minister Gaston Browne told ITV News shortly after the local ceremony confirmed Charles III as the king of the country following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The small Caribbean Islands, which became independent of Britain in 1981, was one of 14 members of the Commonwealth who shared the King of England as the head of their state.
Brown said being a republic is “the last step to complete the circle of independence to ensure that we are truly sovereign,” but emphasizing the referendum is “not the action of hostility” and will not involve retirement of the Commonwealth of Members.
Prime Minister Antigua did not immediately reply to requests for comments, and Reuters could not independently verify the proposal.
This nation has a population of less than 100,000, according to official data.
The promise of PM Browne came in the midst of the Republican push that grew across the Caribbean territory, with Barbados chose to remove the British monarchy last year, and the ruling party in Jamaica had signaled it might follow.
Nevertheless, Browne – who was ready to be re -elected next year – said he did not respond to the broad encouragement of anti -struggles to hold voting.
“I think most people don’t even bother thinking about it,” he told ITV.
