The Chief Parliamentary Counsel has prepared two draft Bills intended to underpin Jamaica’s transition from a constitutional monarchy to a republic. The proposed pieces of legislation – the Constitution (Amendment) (Republic of Jamaica) Bill, 2024, and the Referendum Bill, 2024, were presented to the Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs on July 22. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte, made...

Moving to Republic status, even without immediately resolving the question of the final court of appeal, is a practical and sensible approach to constitutional reform. That was the word from Prime Minister, the Most Andrew Holness, in his Independence message to the Diaspora, read by Deputy Chief of Mission at the Jamaican Embassy in Washington, DC, Lishann Salmon, at the...

The Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs takes its series of Road to Republic town halls to Kingston and St. Andrew on Thursday (July 25). Residents are invited to come out in their numbers for the session, which will be held at Emancipation Park beginning at 7:00 p.m. The event will facilitate discussion on constitutional reform. Speaking with JIS News...

A Bill to amend Section 61 of the Constitution of Jamaica to provide for new Words of Enactment was passed in the Senate on Friday (July 19). It constitutes the first legislative step in a proposed series of amendments intended to give effect to a Constitution enacted by the Parliament of Jamaica and approved by the people of Jamaica. Section...

Jamaicans who are eligible to vote are being encouraged to enumerate, so they can participate in the process of Jamaica moving from a constitutional monarchy to a republic. “Please enumerate to participate, the process will come down the road; keep in touch with what is happening,” Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte, urged. Mrs. Malahoo Forte...

Constitutional Reform will be among topics for discussion during Wednesday’s (June 19) final day of the 10th Biennial Diaspora Conference, which is being staged at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James. Addressing a recent JIS Think Tank, State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Alando Terrelonge, said that constitutional reform remains an important...

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Wayne Robertson, is calling for the laws of Jamaica with outdated monetary penalties to be updated. Speaking during a Legislative Policy Development Forum at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Thursday (June 13), Mr. Robertson informed that when the Ministry was established, it received information on this area...