King Charles III
.png)
00:00
00:00
00:00
Merrick Needham and Dr. Lloyd Barnett
Retired Logistics and Protocol Consultant Colonel, Merrick Needham, has said there could be increased negative reactions among Jamaicans to the new head of state being King Charles III.
He argues that the fact that he is continuing the role of a foreign head of state will not sit well.
Prince Charles became the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth following the death of his mother Elizabeth on Thursday.
The event has triggered fresh debate about Jamaica's continued retention of a foreign head of state along with associated customs.
Mr. Needham believes that many Jamaicans were emotionally attached to the Queen due to her long reign.
However, he anticipates that while King Charles will be "an acceptable replacement", he will find less favour among the people and face "increasing objection".
No local input
Attorney and constitutional expert Dr. Lloyd Barnett has lamented the current situation where Jamaica's head of state has changed without any local input.
He argued that this is something which was predictable, so steps should have been taken long ago to prevent this outcome.
"It's unfortunate because as an independent country we should have a choice as to who becomes our head of state - whether it is an executive position or a formal position," he said, recalling that he had warned of this possibility up to three years ago.
There have been questions about whether there will be changes to the mention of Her Majesty or the Queen in Jamaica's constitution with the ascension of King Charles III.
But Dr. Barnett said no constitutional change will have to be made as it is a formal adjustment that is automatic once the monarch changes.
"In our Constitution, the monarch is referred to as Her Majesty and is referred to only three or four times in a purely formal way. The most direct function performed by the monarch is the appointment of the Governor General," he noted.
Dr. Barnett and Mr. Needham were speaking Thursday on Radio Jamaica's Beyond the Headlines programme.
The Court Administration Division on Thursday advised that with the death of Queen Elizabeth, all court proceedings issued in the name of the Queen or Regina must be issued in the name of the King or Rex.
The same should be done for all oaths and court documents.
comments powered by Disqus
All feeds
