In The Caribbean bells are being tolled and flags are being flown at half-staff as we remember Queen Elizabeth II with gun salutes while dressed in British ceremonial uniforms as we transition from a beloved queen, and welcomed the dawn of a new monarch, King Charles III. The death of Britain’s oldest and longest-serving monarch continued to reverberate both in and out of the realm.
Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash
In the Caribbean, as head of state for six British overseas territories and eight independent island nations, despite the general feeling of adversity towards monarchy and the history we had with our oppressors in past centuries, In the Caribbean, Queen Elizabeth II has always been regarded with deep respect and affection.
While her connection to the region’s colonial history is fraught with tension, her connections over the years to repair the long relationship between herself and the Commonwealth will not be forgotten. During her reign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has visited over 110 countries, covering over a million miles.
The Queen has personally visited every Commonwealth country, (with the exception of Cameroon, which joined in 1995, and Rwanda which joined in 2009) including visiting every Caribbean Commonwealth country.
She became the longest-serving monarch in 2015, and celebrated her platinum jubilee earlier this year, having led the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth for 70 continuous years.
It is clear that she is portrayed as a very positive guide, a source of stability for her country especially in the post-War World II era, and a genuine and thoughtful leader of the Commonwealth of Nations.
September 8, 2022, is a day that will forever be marked in world history and will be remembered as the end of an era. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland and Head of the Commonwealth peacefully passed away at her Scottish residence of Balmoral Castle, where she was under tight observation due to her quickly deteriorating health condition.
Her last public appearance, just two days before her demise, showed a woman starting to peacefully “walk gently into that good night”, yet still standing strong under the weight of age and physical limitations. Despite her declining health, she was able to formally appoint Liz Truss as UK’s Prime Minister, the 15th – and last – to be appointed by Queen Elizabeth II.
The loss of Queen Elizabeth has saddened the entire planet. Very few monarchs in our modern times have experienced the same level of love and appreciation, mixed with curiosity, a human inclination to gossip, and incredible attention to her exquisite taste in fashion. However, she lived through many global conflicts and ever-shifting landscapes punctuated with domestic upheaval.
Whereas during her 70-year reign, the Queen faced a number of challenges and survived through epidemics, wars, international social, political, and technological revolutions, challenges, and crises of all kinds, she was also able to uplift Britain from a war-weary imperial power in decline, to a modern country embracing multiple cultures, religions and dogmatic orientations.
Political leaders from all over the Caribbean and the world looked up to Queen Elizabeth II as an example of leadership, intelligence, wisdom, and strength; her reign, rock-solid commitment to her role, and wise, well-weighed decisions were a true inspiration to everyone.
In countries that gained their independence from Britain during her reign, the decision to break away from the colonial residues of the British Empire did not create enemies but rather established a new and fruitful relationship between nations.
Regardless of various sentiments about the monarchy or British colonialism, many Caribbean leaders expressed sadness over the death and the end of an era.
According to Rosalea Hamilton, a Jamaica advocate for slavery reparations and cutting ties with the British monarchy, “Not everyone is fond of the British monarchy, and “some people think they take advantage of us, but I think she has been an icon for women and for the world to emulate when you watch her style of governance and exercise of power.”
Here now are some kind words from many Caribbean leaders following the death of Her Majesty as every Caribbean nation and territory is establishing several ways to pay tributes to this majestic human and historical figure.
“As we reflect on the life and service of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, we can all agree that she was a portrait of dignity in how she conducted the affairs of State and remains an example in leadership. Her grace, elegance, and humility will be remembered throughout the ages.”
JAMAICA
Offering condolences to the royal family and the people of the United Kingdom, The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Hon. Andrew Holness has expressed sadness for the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and sent his heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family. He wrote on his Instagram page
The country joins the entire Commonwealth in mourning her passing and established a 12-day mourning period which will culminate in a Day of Mourning on September 18th. As customary, no celebratory activities shall take place during these days; bells were additionally tolled nationally for one hour on the day she left us.
BARBADOS
The President of Barbados, Dame Sandra Mason, sent her “sincere and heartfelt condolences to members of the royal family and people in the United Kingdom”.
She stated that “while her passing marks the end of an era, her reign will forever represent the kind of stoic determination our world has required of its leaders over the past century, but which, sadly, we have not always been able to witness”.
After less than a year after the constitution of the Republic of Barbados, 400 years after the arrival of the first English ships, the passing of the Queen hits home in the hearts of Barbadians who remember her fondly.
ANTIGUA and BARBUDA
The Royal Commonwealth Society of Antigua and Barbuda has expressed its sorrow on the passing of the Queen. In a statement to the press immediately after the sad news, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne stated that…
“Her Majesty’s life personified the simplest of qualities – tolerance and decency. Her ability to inspire and unite has been one of the many remarkable features of her life which we all admire”.
All flags throughout the country are flown at half-mast in the sign of respect and recognition of the exceptional life and outstanding service of Queen Elizabeth II, until the day of her burial.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
A gun salute was fired at 12 noon on September 9th: members of the public were all invited and the event was also live streamed. The British overseas territory is invited to observe a 2-minutes silence period in honor of Her Majesty on the day of her burial.
BVI’s Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. The Honorable Natalio D. Wheatly remembered “Her Majesty’s cool composure, confidence, and charm as she mingled with residents” during her two visits to the Territory, and stated that “She was an iconic figure and an inspiration to millions, especially women, as her tenure, noble service and achievements defied and shattered the glass ceiling that was so prominent only a few decades ago.”
BERMUDA
Premier David Burt of Bermuda was the first Caribbean leader to send his condolences to the Royal Family and the People of the United Kingdom, with a message of profound respect towards “A life of undimmed duty, a model of strength and devotion to her country”.
Hamilton’s Mayor Charles Gosling fondly remembers the Queen’s special connection to the island of Bermuda: “Bermuda was Her Majesty’s first stop on her inaugural Commonwealth tour in 1953. She subsequently returned to Bermuda 5 times (…) and spoke fondly of her time here” On September 9th, the day after her death, at 12 noon, the Royal Bermuda Regiment staged a 21-rifle salute at the Government House.
A period of Mourning was announced in the country, as well, and a special commemorative book is scheduled to be placed this week in the reception area of City Hall for the entire month, for people who wish to leave a message to mark her eventful and memorable reign.
DOMINICA
Deeply saddened at the news, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said that “Her passing ends an iconic 70-year reign and is a profound loss for the Commonwealth of Nations and the world.”
TURKS AND CAICOS
A 96-gun salute (one round for each year of her extraordinary life) was fired in Grand Turk on September 9th, flags are being flown half-mast until her funeral, with the exception of the proclamation of the new King, and Condolences books are made available in the Governor’s Offices. A local 2-minutes silence will be observed on the day of her funeral
BELIZE
Governor General Her Excellency Dame Froyla Tzalam expressed deep sorrow and her most sincere and heartfelt condolences on behalf of the people of Belize on the passing of the Sovereign, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, stating this represents “the end of an era”.
ANGUILLA
A 96-gun salute was staged in honor of Her Majesty, and a book of condolences was opened at the Governor’s Office and made available for the public. National flags are flown at half-mast and will be so until after the funeral day when a 2-minute silence will be respected throughout the country.
CAYMAN ISLANDS
A 96-gun salute took place at Government House, with one round fired every 10 seconds and the number of rounds fired to match her age; a 10-day period of mourning is announced and the flags are being flown half-mast, except for the day when King Charles III will be assuming the throne.
Last but not least, her funeral day will be declared a public holiday. The Cayman Islands Premier Wayne Panton offered his condolences to the Royal Family saying “It is our prayer that God grants them the grace and peace to get through this difficult time. May God be with and comfort us all”.
CARICOM
CARICOM’s Chairman President Chandrikapersad Santokhi of Suriname also expressed heartfelt condolences on behalf of the entire region to the British Royal family, saying Queen Elizabeth II “will be remembered for her love and dedication to the Commonwealth, of which she was a passionate supporter and leader”.
As the sun sets on Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, we enter a new period without the stoic figure. After all, Queen Elizabeth has been in our lives basically forever, and for most of us, she is the only monarchy we have ever known.
Very few people that are alive today can remember a world without Queen Elizabeth II, and we will all need to adjust to this new reality. The Queen is dead.
From 1952 to 2022, during her 70-year reign, and her 96 years spent gracefully walking on this planet, she reigned as the head of the Commonwealth, and regardless of the historical experiences before she came among us, the Caribbean shares with the monarchy our sentiments felt about what is to come.
Queen Elizabeth II, was loved by a large portion of Caribbeans and by the wider Commonwealth.
Her long-standing and strident image will remain in the hearts of many in the region, as we mourn her loss and the end of an era.
While the world wishes King Charles III a peaceful and fruitful kingdom, we all still need time to mourn the passing of his exceptional woman, queen, and matriarch, an example of moral strength, passion, and composure that will occupy pages of our history books for many centuries to come.