Jamaica paves way to become republic, tables bill to remove King Charles as head of state

Jamaica has taken the first step in removing King Charles as the head of state by tabling a bill in the parliament to abolish the constitutional monarchy and make the country a republic.

The move comes as a response to the public call from Jamaicans to change the constitution and pave the way for the island country to become a self-governed state, Jamaica’s minister of legal and constitutional affairs, Marlene Malahoo Forte said.

Although the British monarchy has no real control over Jamaican public affairs and its control is largely ceremonial, it is often seen as a remnant of colonial rule.

After gaining independence in 1962, Jamaica, like many former British colonies, retained the British monarch as its head of state, with the monarch represented in the country by a governor-general.

If the bill is passed, a Jamaican president will take over as the ceremonial head of the state while the prime minister is the head of the government.

Talking to The Guardian, Forte said, “Every year when we celebrate independence on August 6, the nation is invited to reflect on its achievements since independence and what remains to be done, and every year the question is asked when are we going to abolish the monarchy and have a Jamaican head of state.”

How will the bill change things?

The bill will also impact the definition of Jamaican citizenship and the nation’s political structure, with the Senate being expanded to include independently appointed senators, separate from political parties.

It is yet to pass several hurdles including review by joint committees, voting in the parliament and a national referendum.

It also has to get the approval of the Opposition who does not share the same views as the ruling party about Jamaica becoming a republic.

Donna Scott-Mottley, a spokesperson of the country’s main opposition party People’s National Party said, “We do not believe you can say that you’re fully decolonised if you still retain the privy council as your apex court. So you cannot leave the king but still have to petition him when you want justice to be delivered to your people – and the privy council as the apex court is an anachronism in this context.”

She, however, said, “At the end of the day, this is not about political parties, it’s about our nation. It’s about our people and it’s about closing the full circle of independence for the people of our country.”

Why does Jamaica want to oust King Charles?

Jamaica, like other Caribbean countries, is on its path to renouncing the British monarchy. Most recently, Barbados abandoned the monarchy to become a self-governed nation.

Jamaicans have, for long, protested the arrangement where the monarchy is the head of state. Many have even demanded a formal apology from the royals for their treatment of Africans and their history of enslavement.