Jamaica begins process of severing ties with British monarchy

Prime Minister of Jamaica Portia Simpson-Miller

Jamaica – As the country celebrates its 50th year of Independence, the government intends to begin the process of removing all ties with the British monarchy, thereby becoming a truly independent nation.

This was stated by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, during her swearing-in ceremony, today (January 5), at King’s House.

“This 50th Anniversary year will be a time for reflection on the lessons of the past; and, as we celebrate our achievements as an independent nation, we now need to complete the circle of independence. In this regard, we will initiate the process for our detachment from the Monarchy to become a Republic, with our own indigenous President, as Head of State,” Mrs. Simpson Miller said.

Currently, under the Jamaican Constitution, the country’s Head of State is Queen Elizabeth II. The Prime Minister is formally appointed into office by the Governor-General of Jamaica, who represents the Queen.

In the meantime, the Prime Minister called for the nation to work together as “we embark upon a new phase of our Jamaican journey.”

“I believe that today marks a critical turning point in our journey. You must believe this with me and you must play your part in this process of transformation,” she implored.

Mrs. Simpson Miller added that the nation requires the strength, the creativity, the innovation and the steely courage of every Jamaican man, woman, youth and child to place the country on a path to prosperity.

“Let us form a strong bond of patriotic unity and let us move forward together on this journey into our collective future,” the Prime Minister urged.

Mrs. Simpson Miller, the nation’s 7th Prime Minister, is being installed for the second time.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

22 Comments

  1. Graduado
    January 8, 2012

    LONG OVERDUE SUPPORT THIS MOVE FULLY,WILL BE BETTER FOR OUR SISTER .CARIBBEAN ISLAND

  2. January 8, 2012

    An european king or queen as head of state of black people is condoning racial discrimination. if pre, Barak Obama’s child fall in love with a member of the uk or an european royal family , what do you think wil happen. People still speculating on Diana’s death. This is a question to you all. A local head of state is wasting tax payers money of small island like ours . Our head of state is a local king and whos there for social partys. We need a cheaper system to protect our democracy and not a local king

  3. Edoz
    January 8, 2012

    @NO PEACE NO JUSTICE: amen to that. One word…Zimbabwe.

  4. nigel
    January 8, 2012

    great job Jamaica!! what are the benefits of benefit under the British Monarchy? nothing!

  5. deesse
    January 7, 2012

    yes yes yes real independence. how can a nation say they are free from their former oppressors when the oppressor is still on out currency. big up to jamaica

  6. Clear & Certain
    January 7, 2012

    What a difference all this crap make? republic or monarcial system.When your leaders are what they are **** continues either form of Gov’t.
    Problem is poverty breeds/begets fraud, corruption,ej bin, fertilizer,passport sales, villas, cocaine marijuana, legal prostitiution, gold for cash, skimming treasury(all forms)square peg in triangluar circular holes just name em the list is very,absolutely in complete.
    keep on chating phat amongst self. DA is well on the move to being Chinese owned haitian and others controlled and ran.Remember the phrase Niro fiddled while Romed burnt? Allpy it to DA.

  7. NO PEACE NO JUSTICE
    January 7, 2012

    Let’s stop and think a little,can we compare all the islands which took so called political independence from the colonial powers to those that have not taken political independence and tell yourselves which ones are better off financially and economically?Are they not still the ones we depend on and go to for a job and survival?I’ll name some,BVI,USVI,Anguilla,Monserrat,Cayman Islands,St.Martin/St.Maarten,Guadeloupe,Martinique and the list can go on,we’ve got to be realistic.Most if not all the islands and countries including Africa which took political independence has failed,the leaders has failed the people and the countries by making them poorer with corrupt activities and crimes against their own people,if we are not bias we’ll all agree.I am not saying so because i want to be lead by the colonialist,but because our own black leaders has treated us worse.Look at Haiti,an example we can all point out to and we are slowly going down that road with a leader who’s making us dependant on the likes of China and others while pretending to blasting our former colonial powers.

  8. Realist
    January 7, 2012

    Thank goodness and Eugenia Charles, who first demanded it, (although she was still in Opposition and then PJ agreed) that we went into independence directly as a republic with our own head of state.

    We were the only Commonwealth Caribbean State to go independent as a republic. Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago went republic some years after their independence.

    Now we can sit back and watch the other former British colonies squabble and play politics with “republic vs monarchy”. At least we in Dominica dont have to squabble with that anymore. We there already longtime.

    • Anonymous
      January 8, 2012

      Realist,do u know who is head of the Commonwealth?It’s the same monarchy.None of these politition have the courage to change anything,not even the name of the country they could rename Waitukubuli after independence,alot of the streets name still promote these colonial people.

  9. out of south city
    January 6, 2012

    If we say that we are an independent country why do we still look to England and the queen? Europe has underdeveloped Africa and has gotten all they could. The wealth of Africa built Europe. They came to the Caribbean also looking for wealth. They have divided and conquered many lands and became wealthy as a result but their domination time is coming to an end and Africa must rise again. Who cares about them?
    I believe that the Prime Minister is sending a message to the other islands of the Caribbean and they should all follow suite.

  10. Edoz
    January 6, 2012

    YES My people. SO…Jamaica want out and most of you in Dominica seems to approve but remember this.

    $1.00.US = 86.13 Jamaica Dollars
    £1.00.UK = 133.45 Jamaica Dollars
    £1.00.UK = 4.18 East Caribbean dollars(Dominica)

    So allyou go ahead, follow Jamaica and watch the empty barrels from fond cole.
    All you will end up with is more gunmen and ganja. If that is the way you want to go you might as well hand over Dominica to the Chinese and i don’t think all Dominicans is that stupid.

    • Papa Way
      January 7, 2012

      if we go the Jamaica way it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than a Dominican to enter the UK/US!

      …and I ain’t joking!!!

      • still
        January 7, 2012

        if we go the jamaica way how exactly?? they are only doing something we have alredy done from the day of our independence.

  11. ??
    January 6, 2012

    but they wont get invited to the PALACE and people will say is because of corruption..lol Isn’t that the case with DA?

  12. Tutut
    January 6, 2012

    …and that is where Dominica taught the big islands a lesson :lol: . When you independent you independent! It was high time!

  13. WIKILEAKS
    January 6, 2012

    Good Job…we are a Republic in Dominica. All the Caribbean Countries should follow our lead.

    • Dissappointed
      January 6, 2012

      We are Republic and that is way the the Royals are not obligated to visit us

    • Papa Way
      January 6, 2012

      We’re a republic which goes cap-in-head to China, the US and Taiwan before that – get real! Jamaica has several millions of citizens, the Jamaican dollar isn’t worth jack and it’s biggest earner and most renowned foreign export is gunman and weed (ganja…for those of you who aren’t too clear on that).

      I’d follow their lead without hesitation..NOT!!!

      • Papa Way
        January 6, 2012

        [TYPO] …its

      • Anonymous
        January 6, 2012

        u need to go back to school

  14. Conscious
    January 6, 2012

    I wish success to the Government and people of Jamaica. The hurdles they face are huge.

    • De Anguillian
      January 7, 2012

      A way to go PM. get rid of the Queen as head of State and have your own Head of State.
      Wish you all the best in this.

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available