The Jamaica Observer reports that Barbados is putting a statue of Lord Horatio Nelson in its national museum, as part of its process of creating a Barbadian head of state:

“The Government of Barbados has announced its intentions to officially become an independent republic on November 30, 2021, which is our 55th anniversary of Independence,” Minister King added. “This is indeed an ultimate statement of confidence in who we are as a people and what we are capable of achieving.
“As we amend the constitution to have a Barbadian head of state, and as a symbol of the maturity of our democracy, it is imperative that we re-examine notable elements of our colonial past. Cabinet's decision to remove the statue is part of this process as we seek to promote national identity as part of a modern Barbados.”

This is good to see. Instead of destroying colonial-era statues, Barbados is putting them in a museum. This is an important step, which we should take note of in New Zealand. A New Zealand citizen as our head of state is not about destroying the symbols of our colonial past or forgetting them. They are a part of our history, for better or worse. It’s about recognising that we are an independent country, and grappling with what we do now and in the future.