NASSAU, Bahamas – Prime Minister Phillip Davis says Bahamians will have to decide whether the country should become a republic.
Prime Minister Phillip DavisDavis, speaking to reporters after signing the book of condolences at the Senate, following the death last Thursday of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, said that the decision on the country’s future with the monarchy ultimately lies with the Bahamian public.
Bahamas gained its political independence from Britain on July 10, 1973 and the debate as to whether or not the country transits to a republican status was re-ignited with the death of the Queen.
“The only challenge with us moving to a republic is that I can’t, as much as I would wish to do it, I cannot do it without your consent,” he said, adding “I will have a referendum and the Bahamian people will have to say to me, ‘yes’.”
He confirmed that having a referendum was on the table, telling reporters “for me, it always is but again it is our people who will have to decide”.
Social Services Minister Obie Wilchcombe told reporters he didn’t find it surprising that people here were now debating the issue, especially when considering how much the country has grown.
“There will be some discussions I am sure in our country about moving on. I have heard some of my colleagues express for a long time and that is a debate that will happen. The truth is The Bahamas has grown and we’re going to be 50 years old next year and we have come a long way from a fishing village to a colony and we’re now independent.
“We pretty much fight for ourselves and we struggle on our own and we have partners and friends which will not go away and as other countries have done, they have remained members of the Commonwealth so there are stages and I think that we’re near that stage and I expect more debate to continue.”
Former prime minister Perry Christie, who formed a constitutional commission in 2012 to review the Constitution of The Bahamas and other matters like whether The Bahamas should evolve into a republic, said Commonwealth countries are now making decisions about their future with the monarch and that King Charles’ performance as monarch will play a large role in helping countries determine their next steps.
“The question and challenge now is that the new king, King Charles, will have the role to play that his mother played magnificently and the question will be how effective that will be to keep everything going in the way it has in the past,” he said, noting that he was not prepared to pre-empt the government as regards holding a referendum.
“We have a new government and it’s for them to continue to look closely at governance in our country and make a determination, hopefully with the support of our people as to which steps we take in our maturation process and that’s what it’s all about.”
Former prime minister Hubert Ingraham said he was not an advocate “for any changes,” telling reporters: “I have no comment to make about what The Bahamas might do in the future.
“I am quite comfortable as I am now and if the government of The Bahamas choose to do something else, it’s entirely up to them but I am not an advocate for any changes. I like it as it is now.”
Opposition Leader, Michael Pintard said he would support national conversation on the matter and believes the country should develop a white paper on what the move could mean for us.
