Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

King Charles III as head of state in St Vincent and the Grenadines 'absurd'

King Charles III as head of state in St Vincent and the Grenadines 'absurd'

The Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines has said having a British monarch as head of state is "an absurdity" he would like to end in his lifetime.

King Charles III, seen here with Ralph Gonsalves, is head of state in a number of Caribbean countries

Ralph Gonsalves said he would welcome an apology from the British state and monarchy on past injustices relating to slavery.

He said he believes King Charles III is open to talking about reparations.

King Charles is head of state in eight Caribbean countries.

Within the past year, political leaders in the Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda have all indicated their plans to review their positions as constitutional monarchies.

The Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrance Drew, told the BBC his country is "not totally free" as long as King Charles III remains head of state and that a public consultation on whether the nation should become a republic would begin during his leadership.

Speaking to the BBC two days after the coronation, Dr Gonsalves said the current constitutional arrangement "offends people in a psychological way" and his country wanted a president "selected by our own constitutional processes".

In 2009, St Vincent and the Grenadines held a referendum to decide whether to transition to a republic. Forty-five per cent of voters chose to replace Queen Elizabeth II with a ceremonial president - falling far short of the two-thirds required.

Mr Gonsalves has said he would like to try again.

"I don't know whether it will happen. But I'm hoping so. If it doesn't happen, somebody else will stand on my shoulders and carry forth that work," he said.

According to a recent poll conducted in the 15 countries where the King is head of state, St Vincent and the Grenadines is among those most opposed to becoming a republic.

The survey, conducted by UK politician-turned-pollster Lord Ashcroft, suggests that the idea would be rejected by a majority of 63% to 34%.

Lord Ashcroft Polls interviewed 22,701 adults across the 15 countries between 6 February and 23 March.


'Open to conversation'


In a statement, Buckingham Palace said the decision on transitioning to a republic "is purely a matter for each country to decide".

Mr Gonsalves added he would welcome an apology from both King Charles and the British government on the legacy of slavery.

"King Charles at least, is clearly interested in having a conversation. And I welcome that. But I don't know whether King Charles is going to do an apology without the British state."

Buckingham Palace told the BBC the King takes slavery "profoundly seriously".

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves was in office the last time St Vincent and the Grenadines voted on having the British monarch as head of state in 2009


Buckingham Palace has said that it is co-operating with an independent study exploring the relationship between the British monarchy and the slave trade in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Mr Gonsalves said he had contacted David Cameron's government on the issue, but was rejected.

"Their response was that, 'Look, we're not doing apologies. Let's look forward, let us learn. Let's not look to the past'. There's only one problem with that. The present is the past," he said.

Mr Gonsalves said the current UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, was also wrong for refusing to apologise for the UK's historic role in the slave trade, adding that going to the International Criminal Court to pursue the issue was also an option.

"We can continue the political work, we can do diplomatic work, but we can also go to the International Court of Justice, for example," he said.

"But I would prefer if we have the conversation, rather than to have to do that."

Speaking two days after the Coronation, Dr Gonsalves praised the King for his positions on climate change and inter-faith dialogue.

"I hold his Majesty in great personal regard," he said.

"My conversation is not one of revenge. It is just something which is reasonable and fair."

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
×