Republicanism in Jamaica

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Republicanism in Jamaica is a position which advocates that Jamaica's system of government be changed from a constitutional monarchy to a republic. Both major political parties – the Jamaica Labour Party and the People's National Party – subscribe to the position, and the current Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, has announced that transitioning to a republic will be a priority of his government. In June 2022, the Jamaican government announced its intention that Jamaica become a republic by the time of the next election in 2025. The process will include a two-thirds majority vote in parliament along with a referendum.[1]

Background

In the lead-up to Jamaican independence in 1962, the Parliament of Jamaica established a cross-party joint select committee to prepare a new constitution. The committee received several submissions calling for Jamaica to become a republic, which it "heard politely, but rejected unceremoniously".[2] The People's Freedom Movement, an extra-parliamentary opposition party, suggested that the constitution include a provision for a referendum on a republic at a later date, but this was not carried out.[3] Both major party leaders in Jamaica in the lead-up to independence (the JLP's Alexander Bustamante and the PNP's Norman Manley) were opposed to Jamaica becoming a republic. Law professor Stephen Vasciannie has suggested that the decision to retain the monarchy at independence was due to several factors, including a desire for continuity and stability, a desire to demonstrate the maturity required for independence, the popularity of the Royal Family amongst Jamaicans, and tendencies towards Anglophilia among the political elites.[4]

History

The first Jamaican prime minister to make steps towards a republic was Michael Manley, whose People's National Party (PNP) came to power at the 1972 general election. His government established a commission into constitutional reform in 1975, and in July 1977, following a march to commemorate the Morant Bay rebellion, Manley announced that Jamaica would become a republic by 1981. However, his government was defeated at the 1980 general election by the more conservative Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), led by Edward Seaga. Seaga was also a republican, having expressed a preference for a "ceremonial presidency" in 1977. Despite this, no concrete moves towards a republic occurred during his premiership.[5]

In 2002, the Parliament of Jamaica, with the PNP, led by PJ Patterson, holding the plurality of seats, abolished the requirement for public servants to take an oath of allegiance to the Jamaican monarch. At a PNP conference in September 2003, Patterson expressed his hopes that Jamaica would become a republic by 2007, stating that "the time has come when we must have a head of state chosen by us".[6] However, his government's attempts to transition to a republic were stifled by its simultaneous attempts to abolish the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as the final court of appeal in Jamaica and replace it with Caribbean Court of Justice. The opposition JLP were against that decision (which would also have required a constitutional amendment) and made their support for republicanism conditional on a referendum being held for the judicial changes, which was not forthcoming.[5]

The PNP was defeated in the 2007 general election. The new prime minister, JLP leader Bruce Golding, promised that his government would "amend the constitution to replace the Queen with a Jamaican president who symbolises the unity of the nation", but the JLP's term in Cabinet came to an end at the 2011 general election without any formal steps towards a republic having been taken.[7] Portia Simpson-Miller, the PNP leader and new prime minister, also publicly affirmed her commitment to republicanism, stating a preference for an elected president.[8] However, the PNP lost power at the 2016 general election without bringing about constitutional change. Andrew Holness, Simpson-Miller's successor as prime minister, also affirmed a commitment to republicanism upon taking office and stated his Cabinet would introduce a bill to replace the Queen with "a non-executive president as head of state".[9]

During the 2020 Jamaican general election, the PNP promised to hold a referendum on becoming a republic within 18 months if it won the election[10] and a poll showed 55% of respondents desired the country become a republic.[11] However, the ruling JLP, which had in 2016 promised a referendum but not carried one out, was re-elected and stated that holding a referendum remains a goal.[12]

In April 2022, former Prime Minister PJ Patterson resigned from the Privy Council of the United Kingdom in support of a push for a republic.[13] The Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Marlene Malahoo Forte, announced that the transition is to be completed by the time of next general election, currently scheduled to be in 2025.[14] Popular support for republicanism accelerated following the death of Elizabeth II.[15]

Legal process

All amendments to the Constitution of Jamaica must be approved by an absolute majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. However, certain sections of the constitution, including those pertaining to the monarchy, can only be amended if they are approved by a two-thirds majority in both houses and submitted to a referendum.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ McLeod, Sheri-Kae (8 June 2022). "Jamaican Government Gives 2025 Timeline to Become Republic". Caribbean News Weekly. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  2. ^ The Politics of Constitutional Decolonization: Jamaica, 1944-62, Trevor Munroe Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of the West Indies, 1972, page 144
  3. ^ Derek O'Brien, "Jamaica’s drift towards republicanism: Possible consequences for the Caribbean", ConstitutionNet, 26 May 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  4. ^ Stephen Vasciannie, "Reflections on the Republic of Jamaica", The Jamaica Observer, 29 November 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  5. ^ a b Michael Burke, "Queen, emperor and republican status", The Jamaica Observer, 21 April 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  6. ^ "Jamaica eyes republican future", BBC News, 22 September 2003. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  7. ^ "Editorial: The Monarchy And Beyond", The Jamaica Gleaner, 12 September 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  8. ^ "Jamaica will become a republic, new prime minister vows", The Guardian, 6 January 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  9. ^ Crilly, Rob (16 April 2016). "Jamaica unveils plan to ditch Queen as head of state". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  10. ^ "PNP vows to hold referendum on whether to remove Queen, if elected". Jamaica Gleaner. 8 August 2020.
  11. ^ "55% of respondents say The Queen must go". Jamaica Observer. Jamaica Observer Limited. 10 August 2020. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Editorial | PM's governance agenda needs clarity". Jamaica Gleaner. 8 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Patterson resigns as Privy Council member". Radio Jamaica News.
  14. ^ "Jamaica eyes Republic status by next general election". Loop News. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  15. ^ Smith, David (16 September 2022). "'Moment of reckoning': Queen's death fuels Jamaica's republican movement". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  16. ^ "The Jamaica (Constitution) Order in Council 1962" (PDF). Retrieved 25 March 2022.
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