Jamaica is taking steps toward becoming a republic by removing King Charles III as the head of state, a move that reflects the country’s desire to distance itself from its colonial past. This process began with the introduction of the Constitution (Amendment) Republic Act of 2024, which aims to establish a Jamaican head of state by the time of the 2025 general election.
Jamaica’s colonial history with Britain spans about 300 years, ending in 1962 when the country gained independence. Since then, the Jamaican people have increasingly questioned the monarchy’s continued role. Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Marlene Malahoo Forte has expressed that Jamaicans are ready for a change and to reflect on their past while progressing forward.
While this bill still needs to pass through the Jamaican Parliament, including a joint committee review, a parliamentary vote, and a national referendum, the move has significant symbolic weight. The monarchy’s influence in Jamaica is largely ceremonial, with King Charles holding no political power, so the shift to a republic is not expected to have major practical consequences for the British monarchy itself.
However, there are other complexities involved, such as deciding whether Jamaica will transition to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as its highest court, rather than the Privy Council in the UK. This decision would further cement Jamaica’s independence and move away from British legal influence.
The momentum to end the monarchy has been building since 2016 when Prime Minister Andrew Holness campaigned on a platform of replacing the British monarch with a non-executive president. During a visit from Prince William and Kate Middleton in March 2024, Holness used the occasion to publicly highlight the unresolved issues surrounding the monarchy’s role in Jamaica’s future.
Though the proposal faces significant political hurdles, including the upcoming general election, it reflects a broader trend of decolonization that has been underway for decades in the Caribbean.