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The Caribbean republican movements after the Queen's death. Commentary by Dr Kate Quinn
22 September 2022
Dr Kate Quinn was recently asked to comment by by news channel Barron's on the likely repercussions of the death of HE Queen Elizabeth II on various republican movements in the Caribbean region.
An extract of the article can be found below. Access to the article in full can be found via this link.
'The idea [of republicanism] "has entered mainstream, 'common-sense' discourse as a wider spectrum of society engages with the issues and asks themselves what has the monarchy ever done for us?" says Kate Quinn. Republicanism predates the end of the second Elizabethan era, Dr Quinn said, "but her death and the accession of Charles have given further momentum to debate on the issue in the region.
Recent questioning of the British monarchy's relevance "has to be understood in the wider context of demands for reparations, the failure of the royal family to apologize for the role of the monarchy in the historical crimes of slavery and colonialism and their contemporary legacies," among other issues.
For those which remain overseas territories -- Cayman, the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Turks and Caicos, Montserrat and, further north, Bermuda -- there is little sign that the queen's death will prompt them to seek independence'
Dr Kate Quinn
Kate Quinn is Associate Professor of Caribbean History at the UCL Institute of the Americas. Previously, she headed the Caribbean programme at the Institute for the Study of the Americas, School of Advanced Study, which she joined as a Post-Doctoral Fellow and subsequently Lecturer in Modern History in 2005. She served for many years on the Committee of the Society for Caribbean Studies and was Chair of the Society from 2012-2014. She has also served as Chair of the Haiti Support Group, a UK-based advocacy organisation, and remains a regular member.Images:
[from top to bottom] Photo showing black cloth covering the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II hanging in Antigua's parliament (Chandan Khanna; AFP); Dr Kate Quinn
Links:
Dr Kate Quinn | academic profile
Link to Barron's article | news channel website