Cabinet Approves Tabling of Legislation to Abolish Monarchy

Cabinet has given approval for legislation to be tabled to abolish the Monarchy as Jamaica’s form of government and for the retention of the parliamentary Cabinet system.

Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte, made the disclosure at a Road to Republic Town Hall, held at Emancipation Park in New Kingston on Thursday (July 25).

“Our research shows that this is a form of government that gives the greatest chance of stability and progress from the countries we have looked at. Some of you may take issue with it, but I didn’t make up the facts. We have looked at countries that have the parliamentary cabinet system and we have looked at countries that have the executive presidential system,” Mrs. Malahoo Forte said.

“The data shows that greater stability and prosperity among the people have been enjoyed in the parliamentary system. I should point out that we often think the parliamentary system is limited to the Westminster model and that only countries that were colonies of Britain have this system; it is not so,” she added.

The Constitution requires the laying of a Bill in Parliament, and it sets out a very detailed process that must be honoured, in order to make the changes.

Mrs. Malahoo Forte also reiterated her call for Jamaicans to enumerate, so they can participate in the process of Jamaica moving from a constitutional monarchy to a republic.

“It’s time for us to take the steps that will allow us and enable us to achieve the goal; mere talk will not bring the change of abolishing the monarchy. So even as we would like to see many things done, there is a context within which decisions are made and taken. At the end of the day the voting people will have to approve the change,” she stated.

“The Constitution says that the changes made by Parliament would have to be approved by those who vote for members of the parliament. If you are here and are not among the voting people, please enumerate to participate,” she added.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Malahoo Forte said the second phase of the reform process will focus on the judicial branch of government.

“There are so many questions – questions about the courts, the existing systems, questions about internal matters in the judicial branch; so many issues of justice that are near and dear to people’s heart, and that has to be given its own time, its own focused attention, because those are real issues,” the Minister noted.

“So, while we are pursuing the reform in the executive and the legislative branch, we want to dedicate time to hear the people out, because matters of justice touch them in a way that it’s life and death,” the Minister added.

The report of the Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC) on the transition and other matters was tabled in Parliament on May 21.