To be very pleased Barbados is now a republic?

[Bebabelouba]

I'm so glad for Barbados and Barbadians.
Anyone else?
Why has this been so underreported?

It's been all over the BBC.
I am pleased for them but hope having closer links to China doesn't bite them on the backside.

It was one of the main headlines on Irish news yesterday.

I think it’s been widely reported.

So they’ve swapped historic British imperialism for modern-day Chinese imperialism?

China have already invested $6 billion in region since 2005.

Harsh loan terms, as others have said, if countries can't repay. NB: Sri Lanka, in 2017 had to give China a port lease. Small countries increasingly allying selves with China at UN. Modern Colonialism?

@mustlovegin

Can you explain exactly why this development makes you happy OP?

I assume if you vouch for sovereignty you must also be glad about Brexit?

Which country do you think will now exert significant influence over this small island now Britain is 'gone'?

The UK leaving the EU which is chose to join I’d completely different than a colonised country becoming independent.

They also talked about Drax hall in Barbados and the British MP (for South Dorset?) who is going to inherit it, which really shows how privilege still has links to the slave trade today.

That MP has inherited wealth based on slavery, it's awful.

I couldn’t care less but I think Barbados will regret this move eventually as China is waiting in the background!!

We go past drax estate on the way to holiday a lot.

Since the kids were little we always all say look it's The Wall! As it's a thing we notice as a marking point how near getting to destination.

The reason is that it's the longest wall I think I've ever seen. Or the most obvious longest one probably.

It goes on for miles with big fancy old brick entrance archways dotted along.

It's genuinely mind boggling. When you get a glimpse up a drive through an arch it goes on for yonks. I don't think you can easily catch a glimpse of the house.

Private ownership. Mind boggling. The immensity of that wealth is incomprehensible to me.

Just seeing as on topic!

Just googled and I'm not the only one!

'During my four years as the Conservative candidate, ‘the wall’ was a major topic of interest.

In fact, I can say with some certainty that it was the most popular topic.

The interest came in the form of ridicule, humour and genuine interest.

Let me reveal the most popular question: “Richard, how many bricks are in the wall?”

The answer is more than two million.

For better or worse, ‘the wall’ is a Dorset landmark.'

Private ownership

What's your point then? Are you against private property?

I’ve seen it in the papers and on the tv news.

Wiki has wall part. One of longest brick walls in England.

I think it's because it's brick so really noticeable. Sounds weird but it's worth driving past in if neck of woods because it's a somehow a really impactful demonstration of simply incomprehensible wealth.

Large swathes on land in the UK and large prime tracts of land in London etc is owned by a cohort esp the royal family.

This is why I worry about Barbados as wel as large swathes of Africa

Inherited of course. From when it was nabbed.

Chinas bought them. Let’s see how that pans out what with communism doing so well for the residents of China.

When their residents start to get disappeared they won’t be so happy.

China is buying up countries all over the world.

Barbados got £400 million for becoming a republic.

it's worth driving past in if neck of woods because it's a somehow a really impactful demonstration of simply incomprehensible wealth

What? You complain about 'incomprehensive wealth' and you holiday in Barbados? Have you been drinking Cheese?

Still not clear what you're going on about

Educate yourself on the belt and road initiative 140 countries signed up including European ones. Just different imperial masters

It's been all over the news, but no, personally I couldn't care less - couldn't afford to go there before, still can't afford to go there now.

I'm not sure what benefit of them becoming a republic is, any more than the UK becoming a republic would be, but obviously it's up to the people of those countries to decide.

Also I don't understand why a country capturing another country to turn it into a colony is "wrong" given that all land that is owned by someone has been acquired somehow, at some point nobody owned it and it was "claimed". Scotland was claimed by the Irish, Ireland by the Welsh, Wales by the English, and England by Germanic tribes (among others). Nobody seriously argues the population of Scotland don't have a legitimate right to hold the territory and they should all come back to Ireland.

The wall is in Dorset. Huge snake of a thing that goes on forever. And there's a stag statue with 5 legs.
Wealth made of the back of slavery.

The wall is in Dorset

Right. We'll see new walls popping up in other parts of the world now built out of 'incomprehensible wealth' too, rest assured

Well done Barbados!

@mustlovegin

Can you explain exactly why this development makes you happy OP?

I assume if you vouch for sovereignty you must also be glad about Brexit?

Which country do you think will now exert significant influence over this small island now Britain is 'gone'?

Whichever one they want, hopefully voluntarily and not by force. We can't be tearing statues down here one minute and stopping our former colonies from making their own choices the next - the best of luck to them, I hope they make a roaring success of it.