KINGSTON — Jamaica will transition to a republic in time for the next general election, which is constitutionally due in 2025, The Jamaica Observer reported on Wednesday, June 8. The Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Marlene Malahoo Forte, provided the update on Tuesday during her contribution to the 2022/23 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.
She had earlier this year dampened expectations and hopes that the Queen would have been removed as Jamaica’s Head of State in 2022 as the country marks 60 years of independence from Britain, explaining that the process was long and detailed.
However, on Tuesday, Malahoo Forte said a Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC) is now being constituted and will include members of the Opposition.
“There are many steps to be taken between now and the tabling of a new constitution. I will advise when the committee is fully constituted,” she said, adding that “it is my intention, in leading the process, to work assiduously before the Parliament, unless of course something more pressing happens to overtake for the start of the next session,” she said.
The minister added that the aim is to get the work done in time for the next session “so that the steps can be taken in time for the next general election”.
She explained that a session is defined to mean, in relation to a House, “the sitting of that House when it first meets after the prorogation of Parliament”. She pointed out that there are certain rules around what is done within a session of Parliament and what goes on between sessions.
Malahoo Forte disclosed that she has already written to the Leader of the Opposition with a request for him to name two Opposition members to the reform committee. See complete article in the Jamaica Observer at https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latest-news/jamaica-to-transition-to-republic-status-by-next-general-election-malahoo-forte/
