‘A bittersweet moment’
Rhodes Scholar Salmon to carry Jamaica’s flag during King’s coronation
Published:Friday | May 5, 2023 | 1:43 AMJudana Murphy/Gleaner Writer
Jamaica’s 2023 Rhodes Scholar David Salmon is slated to carry Jamaica’s national flag at the coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey in London, England, on Saturday.
Salmon told The Gleaner that he is happy to be the island’s standard-bearer at the historic event.
“I understand that this is a pivotal moment in our history. The time has come for our country to become a republic, and this is a sentiment shared by many Jamaicans. Therefore, it is my hope that this will be the last coronation Jamaica will be participating in as a Commonwealth realm,” he said.
Last year March, as Prince William – the next in line to the throne – and Duchess Catherine visited Jamaica to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, Prime Minister Andrew Holness informed them that the island was intent on removing the monarch as the country’s head of state.
“We’re moving on and we intend to attain in short order … to fulfil our true ambitions as an independent, developed and prosperous country,” Holness said then.
Jamaica has kick-started the process to transition the island to a republic with the appointment of a Constitutional Reform Committee in March.
Two weeks ago, the committee said that it had arrived at a consensus to recommend the abolition of the constitutional monarchy as the form of government and had deliberated on the process by which a president would be selected.
A past student of Wolmer’s Trust High School for Boys and a Gleaner columnist, Salmon has been preparing by rehearsing the route to take through the Abbey and the order in which Jamaica falls in the procession of Commonwealth standard-bearers.
He has also been practising how to carry the black, green and gold national emblem, which symbolises the sun which shineth, the green land and the strong and creative people.
Faith leaders will lead the first processions into Westminster Abbey and will be followed by representatives from each of the 15 realms where the King is head of state.
Flag-bearers of each nation will be accompanied by the governors general and prime ministers.
Jamaica’s Governor General Sir Patrick Allen and Lady Allen will attend the coronation, but Holness will be absent.
“This is a bittersweet moment for me. I am excited to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and represent my country internationally. I am also happy to engage with standard-bearers across the Commonwealth as they are exceptional individuals. It is also my hope that this coronation can be a watershed moment in our history,” Salmon told The Gleaner.
The coronation of Britain’s King Charles III will mark the United Kingdom’s first coronation in seven decades.
Charles acceded to the throne in September 2022, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
A 70-year reign, the Queen ruled for longer than any other monarch in British history.
“The atmosphere in London is quite festive. A coronation has not occurred in the United Kingdom for over 70 years. As a result, there is interest and curiosity about the event. I attended the garden party at Buckingham Palace earlier in the week where many shared their interest in the occasion,” the Rhodes Scholar shared.
Salmon added that whenever he visits Westminster Abbey, there are many people lining the boundaries of the site in order to catch a glimpse of the preparations.
“This will certainly be a memorable experience,” he remarked.
Salmon is pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at the University of Cambridge, consequent on receiving the His Royal Highness Prince of Wales Scholarship.
By virtue of being awarded the Rhodes Scholarship, he will head to Oxford University to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in International Development.