Jamaica unlikely to become a republic this year - Malahoo Forte

 

Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Marlene Malahoo Forte on Wednesday disclosed that it is unlikely that Jamaica will achieve republic status in time for its 60th anniversary of independence in August.

 

Mrs Malahoo Forte says there are procedures which have to be followed before the constitution can be amended, and this will take time.

 

She disclosed that there are deeply entrenched provisions of Parliament which outline steps to facilitate Jamaica moving away from a constitutional monarchy to a republic.

 

According to Mrs Malahoo Forte, it will take six months for the provisions to be debated and passed in the House of Representatives.  

 

"The deeply entrenched provisions require a vote of two-thirds members of both Houses, and it also requires a vote by members who are qualified to vote in general elections. That's what we call the referendum. But before a bill which seeks to amend the ordinarily or deeply entrenched provisions can go through, there is a requirement of a three-month's period between the date when the bill is tabled on the House and the commencement of debate. 

 

"So even if the bill were to be tabled, you'd have May, June, July, before any debate could commence, and then after the debate is concluded, you would also need another three months before the bill can be passed in the House," she explained Wednesday at a post Cabinet media briefing.

 

Asked whether the move towards Jamaica becoming a republic will include moving away from the UK Privy Council as Jamaica's final appellate court, Mrs Malahoo Forte said those were two separate issues which required "distinctly different procedures for changing those provisions of the Constitution". 

 

While admitting that there are mixed views on which final court Jamaica should have at this time, the minister sought to assure that "the decisions to be taken will be taken in the best interest of all Jamaicans".