article_snippet: Prime Minister Freundel Stuart told a branch meeting of Prime Minister Freundel Stuart party, the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), last night that the shift would happen in the near future.
article_snippet: George Pilgrim, general secretary of his party, also confirmed the development and said the removal of the Queen as head of state was expected to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Caribbean island's independence next year.
article_snippet: This will move the Caribbean island through to the next major step in the process of nationhood. '
article_snippet: the nation became independent from Britain in 1966 but kept the Queen the Queen as the nation official head of state.
article_snippet: A map showing the east Caribbean island of Barbados, which gained full independence in 1966 after being a British colony .
article_snippet: Plans to make Barbados a republic have been on the horizon for a number of years.
article_snippet: The same year, Barbados made the Caribbean Court of Justice Barbados final court of appeal, rather than the London-based Privy Council, which has long served as the highest court of appeal for many ex-British colonies.
article_snippet: the Caribbean island gained internal autonomy from Britain in 1961 and full independence in 1966, but remains a member of the Commonwealth.
highlights_snippet: Prime Minister Freundel Stuart set out plans for island to become republic .
  
highlights_snippet: Removal could coincide with 50th anniversary of nation's independence .
  