Be it resolved that this honourable House of Assembly pledges sincere loyalty and allegiance to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
The preceding was part of a motion moved by Prime Minister Allen Chastanet at the March 17 House of Assembly sitting, seconded by Opposition Leader Philip J. Pierre and subsequently passed. The pledge, an annual undertaking by members of the House of Assembly and the Senate, coincides with the opening of a session of Parliament.
Days earlier, on March 8, Commonwealth Day was observed. Originally referred to as Empire Day, it is a creature of the Commonwealth of Nations—a voluntary association of 54 countries inclusive of Saint Lucia. While the day passed by with little to no fanfare here, an online post by the STAR generated intriguing reactions.
In observance of the day a statement was issued by Queen Elizabeth II, the head of the Commonwealth. During her speech she reflected on 2020, noting that while the experiences of the last year have been different across the Commonwealth, “stirring examples of courage, commitment and selfless dedication to duty have been demonstrated in every Commonwealth nation and territory.”
However, it was not the content of the speech that generated heated discussion. Many readers were left in disbelief when the statement was posted on the STAR’s website with the accompanying headline: “Queen of Saint Lucia delivers Commonwealth Day speech.”
“Queen of St. Lucia?” many scoffed.
“Didn’t we just celebrate Independence Day?” others exclaimed.
One woman advised: “Queen of Saint Lucia? Huh? And we’re at the mercy of all other countries. Hello, change that heading!”
There was more: “Queen ki sar?”[kweyol for ‘what Queen?’]
“Queen of which Saint Lucia? Murchay mwen souplé!” [Spare me please]
“Gassa St. Lucia has no kinda Queen, we only have a prime minister,” one man declared.
The headline was no typo but simply utilized Elizabeth II’s official title. Saint Lucia is among the fifteen current Commonwealth Realms—a country with the Queen as its Head of State. She holds a different regnal title for each realm. In Saint Lucia’s Constitution she is: “Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of Saint Lucia and of Her Other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.”
The following is taken from the Royal Family’s website: “As Queen of Saint Lucia, Her Majesty maintains a unique relationship with this beautiful Eastern Caribbean island, keeping informed of day- to-day Government matters via her representative in the country, the Governor-General.”
On September 15, 2020 the Governor General of Barbados, Sandra Mason, announced that her country— referred to on occasion as ‘Little England’—would drop the Queen as its head of state and become a republic by November 2021.
“Having attained Independence over half a century ago, our country can be in no doubt about its capacity for self-governance”, said Mason. “The time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind,” Mason announced while addressing the nation’s Parliament. “Barbadians want a Barbadian Head of State. This is the ultimate statement of confidence in who we are and what we are capable of achieving. Hence, Barbados will take the next logical step toward full sovereignty and become a republic by the time we celebrate our 55th Anniversary of Independence.”
In the 2011 Constitutional Reform Report, a recommendation was made to abolish Saint Lucia’s constitutional monarchical system and replace it with a republican constitutional system. The commission was of the view that the Head of State should be a ceremonial President who would replace the Governor General.
Further, that the President “should not have held office in a political party or stood for election as a candidate for elective office within ten years of his/her nomination for President.” The Commission recommended that the President should be elected at a joint sitting of Parliament by a majority vote, and should serve no more than two consecutive seven-year terms.
Ten years on, neither of the country’s main political parties has signaled an intention to make that move. The heir apparent to the British Throne is Prince Charles, which would make him the future ‘King of Saint Lucia.’
This article first appeared in the March 2021 edition of the STAR Monthly Review. Be sure to get your printed copy on newsstands or view it here: https://issuu.com/starbusinessweek/docs/star_monthly_review_-_march_2021
