Former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson - file photo
Former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has retired as a member of Her Majesty's Privy Council in line with his push for Jamaica to move away from the British monarchy and appoint its own head of state.
Her Majesty's Privy Council serves as an advisory body to the Queen in formulating her Orders in Council and is a separate body from the Privy Council, which is Jamaica's final court.
In a letter dated March 30, Mr. Patterson advised the clerk of the Private Council that there is now a consensus in Jamaica that the country should start the process of appointing a local head of state during its 60th year of independence.
He said in light of his strong support for this change, he believed it was prudent and timely for him to retire from the Privy Council with immediate effect.
In a media release, Mr. Patterson said he received a reply on Thursday advising him that his request to be removed from the list of members of Her Majesty's Privy Council has been accepted.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness was last year appointed a member of the Privy Council.
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