Jamaica is considering replacing the Queen as their official
Head of State and making the island a republic. The new proposal was
unveiled by the Queen's representative, Patrick Allen, the
governor-general, in a speech during the opening of parliament in
Kingston on Thursday (14 April).
He set out the government's agenda for the year ahead which
included plans to 'replace Her Majesty The Queen with a Non-Executive
President as Head of State'.
The Queen is officially the head of state in 15 countries in
the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand and Canada, and
while Jamaica declared its independence from Britain in 1962, it remains
within the Commonwealth. If a constitutional amendment is made, the
Queen would be replaced with a president.
Jamaica has previously considered removing the Queen from
her position as head of state. In 2012, former prime minister Portia
Simpson Miller said she would adopt a republican form of government.
However, she was defeated in a general election earlier this year before
bringing any legislation to amend the constitution.
Barbados will drop the Queen as their head of state later
this year, ahead of the 50th anniversary of their independence from
British rule, while Dominica and Trinidad and Tobago are already
republican countries . The Queen last visited Jamaica in 2002 as part of
her Golden Jubilee year celebrations Mail Online reports.
The news will almost certainly cast a shadow over the Queen's forthcoming 90th birthday celebrations.
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