This country wants to break away from its British monarchy, aiming for full independence. This follows revelations about the royal family’s wealth which has sparked deeper scrutiny.
Jamaica has introduced a bill to remove King Charles III as its head of state, marking a critical step toward becoming a republic. The legislation, presented in parliament by Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Marlene Malahoo Forte, responds to widespread calls from Jamaicans to sever ties with the British monarchy.
King Charles III inspects the 200th Sovereign’s Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Camberley, England, on April 14, 2023 | Source: Getty Images
This push for change comes after a long history of British colonial rule. England took control of the island in 1655 and built a plantation economy based on sugar, cocoa, and coffee, using enslaved labor. Slavery was abolished in 1834, freeing thousands who later became small farmers.
Over time, the country gained more independence, joining the Federation of the West Indies in 1958, leaving it in 1961, and achieving full independence in 1962. However, the British monarch remained the ceremonial head of state, represented by a Governor General.
Princess Catherine and Prince William attending the Commissioning Parade at the Jamaica Defence Force during their Royal Tour of the Caribbean on March 24, 2022 | Source: Getty Images
“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,” Malahoo Forte shared, as reported by The Guardian on December 13.
Marlene Malahoo Forte at a World Economic Forum meeting on January 29, 2011 | Source: Getty Images
According to Malahoo Forte, the new bill also aims to replace the monarchy with a Jamaican president and proposes reforms such as expanding the senate “to include senators appointed independently of the political parties.” However, the path to reform is complex.
The bill requires committee scrutiny, parliamentary approval, and a national referendum before it can become law. Opposition leaders have criticized the absence of judicial reforms in the bill, particularly its continued reliance on the U.K.-based privy council instead of the Caribbean Court of Justice.
King Charles III arrives at Victoria Pier in Kingston, Jamaica, as part of their Caribbean tour on March 12, 2008 | Source: Getty Images
“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,” said Senator Donna Scott-Mottley, the opposition People’s National Party spokesperson on justice.
Despite these reservations, Scott-Mottley stressed the importance of bipartisan support for the bill. “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,” she remarked.
King Charles III tours the historic town of Falmouth, Jamaica, on March 13, 2008 | Source: Getty Images
Responding to these concerns, Malahoo Forte explained that Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ administration has adopted a “phased reform approach,” with judicial matters, including court reforms planned for a later phase.
“For many years, a lot of work was done, but we have never progressed to getting the bill in parliament. To amend the constitution’s provisions on the monarchy, a bill must be tabled, as these provisions have the highest level of legal protection,” Malahoo Forte expressed.
Advertisement
Jamaica’s move is part of a broader trend in the Caribbean, where countries like Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, and Barbados have transitioned to republics. Around the time of King Charles’s coronation in May 2023, an expert noted that support for the British monarchy in the region had significantly declined during his reign.