ANTIGUA AND Barbuda could be the next Caribbean country to ditch the Queen as head of state according to prominent commentators on the island.

Following the historic scenes in Barbados last week, many leading experts in Antigua and Barbuda to have discussions about doing likewise. 

According to the Antigua Observer, conversations began on the Observer’s Big Issues show yesterday, with political and social commentator Carlon Knight stating the twin-island nation should focus on structural issues before making the leap to become a Republic. 

“We tend to get caught up a lot in gesture politics because the more complex issues of nation building that really speak to structural issues that affect the poor and disenfranchised are far more difficult to do,” Mr Knight said. 

Mr Knight believes transitioning to a Republic would not be beneficial to the lives of ordinary Antiguans and Barbudans. 

“After we fete and dance and have all this hoorah about becoming a Republic, the lives of people remain the same,” Mr Knight said.

However, lawyer Beverly Benjamin George, who was another contributor to the show, said that Antigua and Barbuda becoming a Republic is long overdue. 

Ms Benjamin-George also emphasised that the process takes a lot of work and planning. 

“It was proposed in Barbados for decades and it was postponed and what we are seeing is what is published to the public but there are so many things that happened along with this such as their constitution change, Mia Mottley changing the financial impediment to people getting higher education because she understands that the best public is an educated public. It’s not just about a name change,” she said.

Those in the education sector are also pushing for the change. 

Dr George Braithwaite who is a Psychology lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, said breaking away from the colonial past is the only way Antigua and Barbuda can be truly free.

“On the basis of it, we have been lingering on colonial premises for far too long and it is about time that the Caribbean recognises its importance and worth and build its confidence, educate its people, share the information that is necessary so that it would be a popular decision,” Dr Brathwaite added.

Last week, Barbados became the world’s newest republic by cutting ties with the British monarchy’s 396-year reign over the island.