Barbados plans Jan. 19 snap election after becoming republic

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley arrives to address the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 28, 2018. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

(Reuters) -Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley on Monday called a snap general election for Jan. 19, just weeks after the Caribbean country became a republic and said goodbye to the British monarchy.

A former British colony that gained independence in 1966, Barbados in October elected Sandra Mason as the country's first-ever president to replace Britain's Queen Elizabeth as head of state. Mason was sworn in as president on Nov. 30 https://www.reuters.com/world/prince-charles-travels-barbados-celebrate-creation-republic-2021-11-29.