JAMAICA’S PRIME Minister will not be attending the Coronation of King Charles this weekend.
According to a report in The Gleaner, Andrew Holness is set to miss the coronation on Saturday at Westminster Abbey.
The news was confirmed by Information minister Robert Morgan, who added that Jamaica will be represented by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen instead.
Over the last 12 months, the Jamaican Government has announced plans to cut ties with the British Monarchy and remove King Charles as the Caribbean country’s head of state.
In March, Mr Holness unveiled the 14-member Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC) team, which will guide Jamaica as the country transitions to a republic.
Speaking at a press conference at the time, Mr Holness said: “It is indeed my great privilege to announce the establishment of the Constitutional Reform Committee.”
The committee will be chaired by Legal and Constitutional Affairs Minister Marlene Malahoo Forte.
According to reports, the committee say it has now reached a consensus to recommend the abolition of the constitutional monarchy.
“Once we have abolished the monarchy from the make-up of our form of Government, it will be replaced by the Office of President of the Republic of Jamaica. The president of the Republic of Jamaica is to be a separate office from the head of government of Jamaica,” Ms Malahoo Forte said during a recent press conference.
Republican movement
Across the Caribbean, there is a growing republican movement, following Barbados’ highly publicised transition to a republic in November 2021.
In October 2022, a senior minister for St Kitts and Nevis said now is the time for the twin-island nation to be come a “truly independent country”.
The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne said in September his country will aim to become a republic in three years following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
In the last year, a referendum on the subject of republic status was also put on the agenda by the Prime Minister of the The Bahamas.
A senior government minister of Belize said the Caribbean country is also planning to follow Barbados and cut ties with the British Monarchy.
This year, the Grenada National Reparations Commission (GNRC) told the Grenadian government to begin consultations about removing King Charles III as its head of state.
Chairman of the GNRC, Arley Gill, said as Grenada prepares to celebrate 50 years of independence from the United Kingdom, next year, now is the time for changes.
“A conversation on Grenada becoming a republic and moving away graciously from the [British] Monarchy as head of state must commence in earnest,” Mr Gill said at a Reparations Forum held in March this year.
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The Jamaican Prime Minister believes the fortunes of Jamaica can be improved by becoming a Republic.
The best way to improve Jamaica’s future are for Jamaica’s leading public people to publicly acknowledge the African-heritage of the majority of Jamaica’s men and women .
Jamaica’s rank and file need to acknowledge their African-heritage, and stop referring to themselves as just JAMAICANS; as if they had no African-antecedents.
Jamaican need to regain control of their domestic economy; and stop slavishly following public expenditure orders from the U.S. Whitehouse, England’s Whitehall, and the IMF and the World Bank.
I dont think jamaica is ready to become a republic. Our economy is in shambles. We are the largest of these islands yet our government cant put a system in place to stop devaluation. All the smaller islands have a better exchange rate. This government is only thinking of the elete.if republic comes 90% of the people will be suffering more. Only the rich hard working business man and the gravalicious corrupt politicians will benefit.
yes Jamaica is ready to become a republic if that is what the public opinion says.