Bill to replace British monarch tabled

Jamaica is one step closer to becoming a republic and moving away from the British monarchy after the Government introduced a bill in Parliament to replace King Charles with a ceremonial Jamaican president as the island’s head of State.

“The tabling of the bill marks the greatest progress made so far in our effort to reform the Constitution of Jamaica to achieve the national goals of having a Jamaican as head of state instead of the hereditary British monarch and also having our supreme law taken out from under the cloak of the imperial Order in Council and placed in proper form,” said Marlene Malahoo Forte, the constitutional affairs minister, who tabled the historic bill on Tuesday.

Saying “there are no coincidences”, the minister acknowledged that Tuesday marked International Human Rights Day as well as the 100th anniversary of the birth of former Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley, a staunch anti-imperialist and social justice advocate, whose party is against removing the monarch without the simultaneous removal of the United Kingdom’s Privy Council as Jamaica’s final court.

Alongside the republic transition, the bill proposes to entrench the Electoral Commission of Jamaica in the Constitution, incorporate national symbols and emblems, clarify Jamaican citizenship criteria, and strengthen constitutional amendment procedures.

But approval for the law faces hurdles as the Government and Opposition disagree over Jamaica’s final court.

The opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has insisted that the British monarch and the Privy Council should be removed at the same time to make a full cutting of colonial ties with the Great Britain, from whom Jamaica gained Independence in 1962. However, the Government has argued that there is no consensus on the issue and the proposed replacement with the Caribbean Court of Justice. It also said a decision on the court is set for a later phase in the reform process.

Last week, Opposition Leader Mark Golding criticised the administration for an alleged lack of consultation. He made it clear that his side’s concerns remain “unresolved”.

“This is a situation where one hand, simply, cannot clap, and without the support of this side, this process is going nowhere. And we have put on the table issues of real concern and unless those are addressed, our support is not guaranteed,” he said.

Malahoo Forte rejected the claim of a lack of consultation but said “other steps will be taken to have the cross-aisle conversation”. She also said the change will not be completed before the next general election, which is due within nine months.

The republic bill will sit on the table of Parliament for three months before the debate starts in the House, and later, the Senate. The Government has the required numbers in the House to get it passed, but it will need at least one opposition member’s support to get approval in the Senate. Ultimately, a referendum will be required to approve the move.

Before the debate, a joint select parliamentary committee will be established to review and report on the bill.

editorial@gleanerjm.com