King Charles at The King’s Foundation’s annual Crafts at Christmas at Highgrove Gardens on Dec. 13, 2024 in Tetbury, England.Photo:Chris Jackson - Pool/Getty
Chris Jackson - Pool/Getty
The Jamaican government has made a move towards removingKing Charlesas its ceremonial head of state in order to become a republic.
Forte called the step a “historic moment,” theJamaica Observerreported. The outlet said the bill will now lay on the table of the House until March 2025 before it can be read for a second time, likely kickstarting a debate about the British crown’s future relationship to the former colony.
“The tabling of the bill marks the greatest progress made so far in our effort to reform the Constitution of Jamaica to achieve the national goals of having a Jamaican as head of state instead of the hereditary British monarch and also having our supreme law taken out from under the cloak of the imperial Order in Council and placed in proper form,” Forte said, according to theJamaica Gleaner. The lawmaker pointed out how the bill was introduced on International Human Rights Day and the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late Michael Manley, former Jamaican Prime Minister, anti-imperalist and social justice advocate.
Forte toldThe Guardianthat the bill was introduced to meet the mood in Jamaica, where people want to change the constitution.
“Every year when we celebrate independence on August 6, the nation is invited to reflect on its achievements since independence and what remains to be done, and every year the question is asked when are we going to abolish the monarchy and have a Jamaican head of state,” the politician said in a piece published on Dec. 13.
The abolishment of the constitutional monarchy isn’t the only item on the bill’s agenda. It will also shift the definition of citizenship, appointment of senators independent from political parties in the House of Representatives and more.
Jamaica became independent in 1962 after over 300 years of British colonial control, but the country opted to retainQueen Elizabethas head of state.
King Charles leaves St. Peter’s Church in London on Dec. 4, 2024.MINA KIM/POOL/AFP/Getty
MINA KIM/POOL/AFP/Getty
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holnesshas been vocalabout an intention to break away from the British monarchy. Holness is the youngest prime minister in the Caribbean country’s history and vowed to transform Jamaica from a constitutional monarchy into a republic during his election campaign. He was elected to lead in 2016 and said upon taking office that his government would introduce a bill to replace Queen Elizabeth with “a non-executive president as head of state.”
King Charles and Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica meet at Buckingham Palace on Sept. 17, 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth.STEFAN ROUSSEAU/POOL/AFP via Getty
STEFAN ROUSSEAU/POOL/AFP via Getty
In March 2022, Holness directly addressed his country’s intention to break away from the crown while meeting withPrince WilliamandKate Middletonduring what proved to be acontroversial tour of the Caribbeanfor the royal couple.
“We’re very, very happy to have you and we hope you’ve received a warm welcome of the people,” the prime minister said in part to William and Kate. “There are issues here, which as you know, are unresolved, but your presence gives us an opportunity for those issues to be placed in context, to be out front and center and to be addressed as best we can. But Jamaica is, as you would see, is a country that is proud of its history and very proud of what we have achieved. And we’re moving on and we intend to … fulfill our true ambitions and destiny to become an independent, developed and prosperous country.”
Juliet Holness, Andrew Holness, Prince William and Kate Middleton in Kingston, Jamaica in March 2022.Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage
Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage
Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Andrew Holness, Juliet Holness and Olivia Grange at the premiere of “Bob Marley: One Love” in Kingston, Jamaica on Jan. 23, 2024.Jason Koerner/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures
Jason Koerner/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures
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King Charles is thought to emphasize that it’s up to each country to decide how it wants to handle its relationship with the crown. Before he embarked on atour of Australia and SamoawithQueen Camillain October,The Telegraphreported that he told anti-monarchist campaigners in Australia that whether the country becomes a republic “is a matter for the Australian public to decide.” Like Jamaica, Australia is one of 14 Commonwealth realms to retain the British sovereign as head of state today.
King Charles speaks during the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings on Oct. 25, 2024 in Apia, Samoa.Ian Vogler-Pool/Getty
Ian Vogler-Pool/Getty
A major moment of the King’s tour was his appearance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, his first as sovereign, where he acknowledged in a speech that “the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate” as calls forslavery reparationsintensify.
However, he stopped short of directly addressing reparations for the Atlantic slave trade, in which Britain took a leading role.
source: people.com
