Episode Notes:

On Nov. 30, the 55th anniversary of its independence, Barbados officially removed Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state and became a republic. The country's new president was then sworn in during a ceremony attended by both Prince Charles and Rihanna.

Joining us to discuss why this happened and what it means for Barbados is Cynthia Barrow-Giles.

Dr. Barrow-Giles is professor of political science at the University of West Indies Cave Hill Campus. She is author and editor of a number of books, including Living at the Borderlines: Issues in Caribbean Sovereignty and Development. And she also served as a member of the St. Lucia Constitution Reform Commission from 2005–2011.