Jamaica on track to become a republic despite delay – Holness

Jamaica Gleaner | Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness stressed the island-nation’s intention to become a republic during a short visit to the United Kingdom last week, saying that the process has been protracted as the government engages in public education and consultation.

He said: “We have set indicative timelines. We would have wanted to be able to do this within a year, but the process is not a linear one.”

A timeline for a referendum, required by law to make the change, however has not yet been given.

The Prime Minister visited the UK following his attendance at the third European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (EU-CELAC) summit in Brussels, Belgium.

During a media blitz and an appearance on Good Morning Britain, Holness shared that the government planned to sever colonial ties with Britain, following Queen Elizabeth II’s death, in September 2022, and that the “transition” from Queen Elizabeth being on the throne to King Charles would have been an “appropriate time” to split from the Crown. Asked about the royal family’s attitude to the split, he said: “They have been very graceful. The Royal Family and King Charles were very clear to members of the Commonwealth that these matters are for the determination of sovereign nations.”

The British Government “has expressed no view” on the matter, he added.

Despite the controversial visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Jamaica last year, Holness reiterated that the Royal Family is welcome to Jamaica.

Holness added: “There are issues that are unresolved. There are issues that might be contentious, but I think the royals have been and have always been very well received.

“You can see that in the ordinary people who came out to see them, who wanted to associate, on the part of their celebrity. But that doesn’t take away outstanding issues there are.”

A poll in May showed 49 percent of Jamaicans supported becoming a republic, 40 percent in favor of remaining with the monarchy and 11 percent undecided.