The government of Barbados announced on 15 September 2020 that it intended to become a republic by 30 November 2021, the 55th anniversary of its independence resulting in the replacement of the Queen and Governor-General with the country's own elected head of state. Barbados would then cease to be a Commonwealth realm, but could maintain membership in the Commonwealth of Nations like Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.  Commonwealth countries are a "loose association of former British colonies and current dependencies".