Barbados elects its first-ever president, removing UK’s Queen Elizabeth

WHY IN THE NEWS?

• Barbados has elected its first-ever president as it prepares to become a republic, removing Queen Elizabeth as head of state.
• Dame Sandra Mason, 72, is set to be sworn in on 30 November, which will mark the country’s 55th anniversary of independence from Britain.
• The first woman to serve on the Barbados Court of Appeals, Dame Sandra has been governor-general since 2018. The historic election came after a joint session of the House of Assembly and the Senate.  described the vote as a “seminal moment” for the nation.