• Barbados formally declared itself the world’s newest republic at the stroke of midnight, as the Caribbean island nation removed Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. 

• At the strike of midnight, the new republic was born to the cheers of hundreds of people lining Chamberlain Bridge in the capital, Bridgetown. 

• Symbolising the historic handover, the Royal Standard flag representing the queen was lowered during a ceremony inaugurating the current governor-general, Dame Sandra Mason, as the first president of Barbados.

• Several leaders and dignitaries, including Prince Charles, attended the ceremony.

• Barbados will remain a republic within the Commonwealth, a grouping of 54 countries across Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe.

Barbados

• Barbados — which has a population of just under 300,000 — was claimed by the British in 1625. It has sometimes been called “Little England” for its loyalty to British customs.

• The birth of the republic, 55 years to the day since Barbados declared independence, unclasps almost all the colonial bonds that have kept the tiny island tied to England since an English ship claimed it for King James I in 1625.

• The former British colony gained independence in 1966.

• The calls for full sovereignty and homegrown leadership have risen in recent years.

• The drive to become a republic began more than two decades ago and culminated with the island's Parliament electing its first ever president last month in a two-thirds majority vote. 

• Barbados Governor General Sandra Mason was scheduled to be sworn in before dawn on November 30 as the island marked its 55th independence from Britain.

• Mason, 72, is an attorney and judge who also has served as ambassador to Venezuela, Colombia, Chile and Brazil. She will help Prime Minister Mia Mottley lead the Caribbean island.

• Tourism is the main foreign exchange earner, with agriculture, oil and the financial services sector contributing to the island’s economy.

• The official currency is the Barbados dollar.

• The Caribbean’s easternmost island is also well-known as the birthplace of superstar singer Rihanna.

• Barbadian cricketers are household names among Indian sport lovers. Sir Vivian Richards, Garry Sobers, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes and Wes Hall are some of the famous cricketers from Barbados in the West Indies cricket team.

In addition to United Kingdom the Queen serves as the monarch for 15 countries:

• Antigua and Barbuda

• Australia

• Bahamas

• Belize

• Canada

• Grenada

• Jamaica

• New Zealand

• Papua New Guinea

• Saint Lucia

• Solomon Islands

• Saint Kitts and Nevis

• Saint Vincent and The Grenadines

• Tuvalu.

India-Barbados relations

• India and Barbados enjoy close and cordial relations and interact actively in the UN, Commonwealth and NAM and other international fora. 

• The first ever Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and Barbados was held in Bridgetown, Barbados from April 28 – May 1, 2015.

• India and Barbados have signed the Air Services Agreement on October 6, 2015, for facilitation of travel arrangements for the citizens and the possibility of direct air connectivity and chartered flight operations between the two countries.

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