Jamaica’s PM says it is time for the country to become a Republic 

By Sherrica Thompson

Staff Writer

#Jamaica, January 20, 2023 – Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, says the Government will be moving with haste and alacrity towards transforming the country into a republic; however no timeline was given.

“It is time that Jamaica become a republic.  For us, the process is not simple, and we have known this from we started on this journey, and we are making sure that we check every box as we move deliberately in that regard,” the Prime Minister noted.

The Prime Minister was speaking at the 25th anniversary of the East Central St James Education Fundraising dinner at Half Moon Conference Centre in Montego Bay on Saturday, January 14.

He said that while the process is something he inherited, he never expected it “to be a straight line”.

“These things are never straightforward, and I never expected it to be a straight line. But whatever political foot works in that those who call for it, and now don’t want it, and now are trying to obfuscate and confuse whatever foot works they may choose to engage in. We are walking a straight line to the objective,” Mr. Holness said.

Mr. Holness urged the Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Marlene Malahoo Forte to “please move ahead with speed and alacrity on this matter,” noting that “Jamaica must become a Republic.”

He added that whatever obstacles the process might encounter, the Government will be in for the long haul and will do whatever it takes.

When the country attains the status, Jamaica will be the newest republic in the region, joining Barbados, which recently became a republic and removed the British Monarch as its head of state on November 30, 2021.