Queen To Be Removed As Head Of State In Jamaica

The Queen is set to be removed as the head of state in Jamaica in a new move for the Caribbean country.

The parliament in the capital of Kingston has been informed that the process will be made in ‘stages’ before the country’s next election in 2025. 

Jamaican politician Marlene Malahoo Forte QC, who heads up the country’s Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, announced the changes in parliament which will see the country become a republic. 

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Marlene said, as reported by The Express: “The goal is to ultimately produce a new Constitution of Jamaica, enacted by the Parliament of Jamaica, to inter alia, establish the Republic of Jamaica as a parliamentary republic, replacing the constitutional monarchy, and affirming our self-determination and cultural heritage.”

“I am pleased to advise this Honourable House that the work to achieve this goal, while being done in stages, has formally commenced,” she continued.

The constitution minister also made a nod to Barbados, which previously cut ties with the monarchy. 

She added that other countries were in a state of suspense, waiting to see which Caribbean nation would next end their relationship with the commonwealth.

Jamaica Information Service

Instead, a Constitutional Reform Committee is set to be built, which will also include members of the opposition.

“The reform work to be done in order to achieve the goal of a new constitution requires cooperation between the government and the parliamentary opposition, as well as the seal of the people,” said Marlene.

Removing the Queen’s status from her current role in the country will involve several steps which will mean voting in the House and Senate of the Jamaican parliament, as well as a public referendum. 

Reports have suggested that the Queen expressed ‘sadness’ at the move from Barbados to becoming a republic. 

Dame Sandra Mason, the President of the country, was sworn in last year - taking on the role of President and replacing the Queen as head of state on the country’s 55th anniversary of independence.

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Recently, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge toured the Caribbean as part of their Royal Tour.

However, the visit was tainted by slavery and anti-monarchy protests being held on each of the islands that William and Kate visited.

The visit was hoped to curb other nations like Barbados from leaving the commonwealth, but was instead viewed as a ‘public relations’ disaster’. 

Another of the couple’s first visits to Belize was cancelled after there was a dispute over land with a charity who the Queen’s grandson is a patron for.